Self-reported pain and utilization of pain treatment between minorities and nonminorities in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate differences in reported pain and pain treatment utilization (use of over-the-counter and prescription pain medications, seeing a pain specialist, and use of complementary and alternative medicine) among minorities and nonminorities in the general population.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of a national probability survey conducted by the CBS News/New York Times in January 2003.


METHODS
Adult population in the United States, 18 years or older, having a telephone line at home.


METHODS
The survey asked respondents a series of questions about demographics, pain characteristics, and utilization of pain treatment; logistic regression was used to identify variables predicting reported utilization of pain treatment.


RESULTS
Of the 902 respondents completing the survey, 676 (75%) reported experiencing "any type of pain." Of these, 17% reported being diagnosed with chronic pain. Minorities reported a higher average daily pain than Whites (4.75 vs. 3.72; p<.001). However, race/ethnicity did not explain utilization of pain treatment; income, education, age, gender, and pain levels explained more variability in different pain treatment utilization variables than race/ethnicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Although minorities report higher pain levels than Whites, race/ethnicity does not explain utilization of treatment for pain. Future studies should consider more nuanced examination of interactions among race/ethnicity, pain, and socioeconomic variables.
Meghani
Salimah H
SH
NewCourtland Center for Transitions & Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Cho
Eunhee
E
D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D059408:Pain Management; D015995:Prevalence; D011637:Public Health Nursing; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs