title: Influence of ethnicity on the perception and treatment of early post-operative pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies indicated that patients from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups tend to receive less analgesics compared to Caucasian (White) patients after similar surgical procedures. Most such data originated from North America and suggested that health-care professionals may perceive the expression of excessive pain by BAME patient groups as an exaggerated response to pain, rather than sub-optimal treatment. There are limited data comparing acute pain management between South Asian and White British patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate correlation between patients' ethnicity and disparities of early post-operative pain perception/management, in an ethnically diverse population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective case note review of acute post-operative pain after total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) in 60 South Asian and 60 age-matched White British females. Data for 140 variables (pre-, intra- and post-operative) for each patient were recorded. We used propensity score matching to produce 30 closely matched patients in each group minimizing effects of recorded co-variates. Data were analysed with and without propensity score matching.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in acute post-operative pain scores, morphine requirements, pain management, adverse effects or duration of post-operative care unit stay between South Asian and White British patients. The median duration of hospital stay of South Asian patients was longer (4.5 days versus 3.0 days, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that in an institution where both patients and health-care professionals are from an ethnically diverse population, neither post-operative pain nor pain management are influenced significantly by South Asian ethnicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Mhamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Hashimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: The Hope Clinical Unit, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Griffin-Teall
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thompson
keywords: Acute pain; ethnic group; ethnology; nociceptive pain; pain perception