JAMA
1994 Mar 23-30;271(12):925-8
Comment in:
JAMA. 1994 Oct 19;272(15):1168-9.
JAMA. 1994 Oct 19;272(15):1169.
The effect of ethnicity on physician estimates of pain severity in patients
with isolated extremity trauma.
Todd KH, Lee T, Hoffman JR.
Division of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine,
Atlanta, GA 30303-3219.
OBJECTIVE--To determine whether physician estimates
of pain severity are influenced by patient ethnicity.
DESIGN—Prospective cohort study.
SETTING--UCLA Emergency Medicine Center, a level I trauma
center, Los Angeles, Calif.
PARTICIPANTS--Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients
presenting to the emergency department with extremity trauma when research
assistants were present. Exclusion criteria were patient refusal, altered
mentation, or severe injury interfering with the interview process.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--The difference between patient
and physician estimates of pain severity as assessed on a visual analog
scale for Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites.
RESULTS--A total of 138 non-Hispanic white and 69 Hispanic
patients participated in the study. The groups differed in language use,
insurance status, and proportions suffering occupational injury. There
were no differences between non-Hispanic white and Hispanic patients in
patient pain assessments (mean, 39.8 mm vs 39.0 mm, respectively; P =
.86), physician pain assessments (mean, 33.6 mm vs 29.7 mm; P = .23),
or the disparity between patient and physician pain assessments (mean
6.1 mm vs 9.4 mm; P = .38). The degree of disparity between patient and
physician pain assessments remained similar for both groups even after
controlling for multiple potential confounders.
CONCLUSIONS—Physician ability to assess pain severity
does not differ for Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients. Other explanations
for a difference in analgesic practice as a function of ethnicity should
be explored.
PMID: 8120961 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
JAMA 1994 Oct 19;272(15):1168-9
Comment on:
JAMA. 1994 Mar 23-30;271(12):925-8.
Ethnicity and estimates of pain by physicians.
Howell JD.
Publication Types: Comment; Letter
PMID: 7933342 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
JAMA 1994 Oct 19;272(15):1169
Comment on:
JAMA. 1994 Mar 23-30;271(12):925-8.
Ethnicity and estimates of pain by physicians.
Young MP.
Publication Types: Comment; Letter
PMID: 7933343 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
