The effect of ethnicity on physician estimates of pain severity in patients with isolated extremity trauma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether physician estimates of pain severity are influenced by patient ethnicity.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
UCLA Emergency Medicine Center, a level I trauma center, Los Angeles, Calif.


METHODS
Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients presenting to the emergency department with extremity trauma when research assistants were present. Exclusion criteria were patient refusal, altered mentation, or severe injury interfering with the interview process.


METHODS
The difference between patient and physician estimates of pain severity as assessed on a visual analog scale for Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites.


RESULTS
A total of 138 non-Hispanic white and 69 Hispanic patients participated in the study. The groups differed in language use, insurance status, and proportions suffering occupational injury. There were no differences between non-Hispanic white and Hispanic patients in patient pain assessments (mean, 39.8 mm vs 39.0 mm, respectively; P = .86), physician pain assessments (mean, 33.6 mm vs 29.7 mm; P = .23), or the disparity between patient and physician pain assessments (mean 6.1 mm vs 9.4 mm; P = .38). The degree of disparity between patient and physician pain assessments remained similar for both groups even after controlling for multiple potential confounders.


CONCLUSIONS
Physician ability to assess pain severity does not differ for Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients. Other explanations for a difference in analgesic practice as a function of ethnicity should be explored.
Todd
K H
KH
Division of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30303-3219.
Lee
T
T
Hoffman
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011287:Prejudice; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000592:standards*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology*