New research presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting in Philadelphia reveals a troubling disparity in pain management for Black patients following major surgeries. The study, conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, found that Black patients are less likely to receive comprehensive pain relief strategies compared to their White counterparts.
The analysis, which examined data from thoracic and abdominal surgeries performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2016 and 2021, showed that Black patients were 74% more likely to be prescribed oral opioids alone. In contrast, they were 29% less likely to receive multimodal analgesia involving four or more pain management methods.
Multimodal analgesia, which combines different types of medications to reduce pain, is considered more effective and potentially less addictive than relying solely on opioids. Dr. Nauder Faraday, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and study author, emphasized the importance of this approach, stating, “By combining different modes, patients get better pain relief and require less narcotics.”
This study adds to a growing body of evidence highlighting racial inequities in healthcare, particularly in pain management. Previous research has shown that physicians are twice as likely to underestimate pain in Black patients compared to other ethnicities.
Dr. Dionne Ibekie, an anesthesiologist not involved in the study, pointed out that these findings suggest possible biases in treatment decisions. “Unfortunately, medical racism is a thing, primarily in the area of unconscious bias,” she noted, calling for systemic changes in medicine and further research to ensure equitable healthcare for all.
As the medical community grapples with these disparities, experts recommend that patients proactively discuss their post-surgery pain management plans with their physicians. This research underscores the urgent need for healthcare providers to address racial biases and ensure equal access to effective pain relief strategies for all patients.
See “Black patients less likely to receive certain pain relief post-surgery, new research suggests” (October 20, 2024)
