title: Eliminating disparities in pain management.
abstract: Not all patients are treated equally for their pain with some therefore being undertreated. Discrepancies still exist in the way physicians treat special populations of patients such as racial minorities, women, and substance abusers. All healthcare providers need to be aware of the not so readily apparent disparities resulting from stereotyping, bias, ageism, and socioeconomic considerations. Physicians can best provide appropriate and equal care by following pain management guidelines; however, they may receive contradictory information and be apprehensive about prescribing opioids, especially to substance abusers. In this "refreshed" article, the authors describe patient encounters with patients of color and offer some goals for removing inequality and inequity from clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, in Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Paulson
authors.forename: Anthony H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Gaxiola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000843:Ankle Joint; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics