Racial differences in analgesic/anti-inflammatory medication use and perceptions of efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
Pharmacotherapy is a key component to osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. Research has shown important racial differences in pain thresholds and perceptions, but little is known about racial variations in responses to pain medications. The purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of efficacy of pain medications among African-American and Caucasian veterans with OA.


METHODS
Participants (N = 202; 70% Caucasian, 30% African-American) were under care for OA within the VA healthcare system. Participants rated the helpfulness of current analgesic/anti-inflammatory medications (scale of 1--not at all helpful to 10--very helpful).


RESULTS
The mean rating of medication helpfulness was 6.1. African-American participants reported significantly greater ratings of medication helpfulness than Caucasians (6.6 vs. 5.9), controlling for demographics, disease severity, total number of analgesic/anti-inflammatory medications being taken, and the class of the medication.


CONCLUSIONS
African Americans had somewhat more favorable perceptions of medication helpfulness than Caucasians. However, overall ratings of medication helpfulness were relatively low. Further research is needed to examine whether modifiable factors (such as low dosing or patient nonadherence to prescription instructions) contribute to perceptions of poor efficacy.
Dominick
Kelli L
KL
Health Services Research and Development Service, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (152), 508 Fulton St., Durham, NC 27705, USA. domin004@mc.duke.edu
Bosworth
Hayden B
HB
Hsieh
Jason B
JB
Moser
Barry K
BK
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans; D044465:White People
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal