The purpose of our review is to evaluate critically the recent literature on racial
and ethnic disparities in pain and to determine how far we have come toward reducing
and eliminating disparities in pain. We examined peer-reviewed research articles published
between 1990 and early 2009 that focused on racial and ethnic disparities in pain
in the United States. The databases used were PubMed, Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, and
PsycInfo. The probable causes of minority group disparities in pain are discussed,
along with suggested strategies for eliminating pain-related disparities. This review
reveals the persistence of racial and ethnic disparities in acute, chronic, cancer,
and palliative pain care across the lifespan and treatment settings, with minorities
receiving lesser quality pain care than non-Hispanic whites. Although health and health
care disparities attract local, state, and federal attention, disparities in pain
care continue to be missing from publicized public health agendas and health care
reform plans. Ensuring optimal pain care for all is critically important from a public
health and policy perspective. A robust research program on disparities in pain is
needed, and the results must be successfully translated into practices and policies
specifically designed to reduce and eliminate disparities in care.
This review evaluates the recent literature on racial and ethnic disparities in pain
and pain treatment. Racial and ethnic disparities in acute pain, chronic cancer pain,
and palliative pain care continue to persist. Rigorous research is needed to develop
interventions, practices, and policies for eliminating disparities in pain.