When race matters: disagreement in pain perception between patients and their physicians in primary care.

When race matters: disagreement in pain perception between patients and their physicians in primary care. Research Abstract Details 

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When race matters: disagreement in pain perception between patients and their physicians in primary care. Abstract Text:

Lisa J Staton,Mukta Panda,Ian Chen,Inginia Genao,James Kurz,Mark Pasanen,Alex J Mechaber,Madhusudan Menon,Jane O'Rorke,JoAnn Wood,Eric Rosenberg,Charles Faeslis,Tim Carey,Diane Calleson,Sam Cykert,

Patients and physicians often disagree in their assessment of pain intensity. This study explores the impact of patient factors on underestimation of pain intensity in chronic noncancer pain. We surveyed patients and their physicians in 12 primary care centers. To measure pain intensity, patients completed an 11-point numeric rating scale for which pain scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). Physicians rated patients' pain on the same scale. We defined disagreement of pain intensity as underestimation or overestimation by 22 points. Of 601 patients approached, 463 (77%) completed the survey. The majority of participants were black (39%) or white (47%), 67% were female, and the mean age was 53 years. Physicians underestimated pain intensity relative to their patients 39% of the time. Forty-six percent agreed with their patients' pain perception, and 15% of physicians overestimated their patients' pain levels by > or =2 points. In both the bivariate and multivariable models, black race was a significant variable associated with underestimation of pain by physicians (p < 0.05; OR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.31-2.81). This study finds that physicians are twice as likely to underestimate pain in blacks patients compared to all other ethnicities combined. A qualitative study exploring why physicians rate blacks patients' pain low is warranted.

When race matters: disagreement in pain perception between patients and their physicians in primary care. Publishing Authors By Initials

LJ Staton,M Panda,I Chen,I Genao,J Kurz,M Pasanen,AJ Mechaber,M Menon,J O'Rorke,J Wood,E Rosenberg,C Faeslis,T Carey,D Calleson,S Cykert,

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When race matters: disagreement in pain perception between patients and their physicians in primary care. Journal Published:

PUBLICATION TYPE: Research Support, U.S. Gov't,

Journal: Journal of the National Medical Association

VOLUME: 99

Page Numbers: 532-8

Journal Abbreviation:

ISSN: 0027-9684

DAY: 3

MONTH: May

YEAR: 2007

When race matters: disagreement in pain perception between patients and their physicians in primary care. Information

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LANGUAGE: eng

NlmUniqueID: 7503090

When race matters: disagreement in pain perception between patients and their physicians in primary care. Keywords Mesh Terms:

KEYWORDS: United States

MESH TERMS: standards

Chemical & Substance for Abstract: When race matters: disagreement in pain perception between patients and their physicians in primary care. Information

Substance Name: Analgesics, Opioid

Registry Number: 0

Grant and Affiliation Information for When race matters: disagreement in pain perception between patients and their physicians in primary care.

AFFILIATION: University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga Unit, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA. lisa.staton@erlanger.org

Country: United States

AGENCY: United States AHRQ

GRANT: P01 HS1086

ACRONYM: HS

MEDLINETA: J Natl Med Assoc

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