title: Quiet about pain: experiences of Aboriginal people in two rural communities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explores communications experienced by Aboriginal people in health care encounters about pain. It examines barriers that can impact upon effective pain management for Aboriginal patients. (This article refers to Aboriginal people, as these were the study participants. It is not intended to exclude Torres Strait Islander people.)
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study using focus groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two Aboriginal communities in South East Queensland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 20 men and 20 women who identified a health condition with associated pain for which they had sought health care, including pain relief. Their conditions included arthritis, orthopaedic injuries, back pain and coronary artery disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical pains associated with participants' health conditions were accorded a second place to deep emotional pain attributed to dispossession, dislocation and loss. At health facilities, prominent perceptions were that health professionals held a negative attitude towards them, and lacked respect and caring. Participants experienced that the language used by health professionals in consultations was complex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aboriginal people often do not report pain, on the basis of previous negative encounters with the health system. Other perceived barriers to effective pain management included discriminatory attitudes of health professionals and communication problems.
authors.affiliation: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.affiliation: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huggins
authors.affiliation: Languages and Comparative Cultural Communication, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sussex
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011793:Queensland; D012424:Rural Population
keywords: Aboriginal health; Indigenous health education; communication; general Indigenous health; pain management