Patient attitudes regarding healthcare utilization and referral: A descriptive comparison in African- and Caucasian Americans with chronic pain

The purpose of this study was to evaluate healthcare utilization and referral patterns for pain management services in a racially and ethnically diverse population. A study-specific mail survey was directed at African- (N=324) and Caucasian Americans (N=300) receiving chronic pain treatment at a ter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the National Medical Association 2004, Vol.96 (1), p.31-42
Main Authors: GREEN, Carmen R, BAKER, Tamara A, KHADY NDAO-BRUMBLAY, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African Americans - psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Chronic Disease
Community Health Services - utilization
Cross-Sectional Studies
European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology
Female
General aspects
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Michigan
Middle Aged
Pain - ethnology
Pain Management
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology
Prospective Studies
Referral and Consultation
Socioeconomic Factors
Statistics, Nonparametric
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to evaluate healthcare utilization and referral patterns for pain management services in a racially and ethnically diverse population. A study-specific mail survey was directed at African- (N=324) and Caucasian Americans (N=300) receiving chronic pain treatment at a tertiary care pain center to address their healthcare access, referral, and utilization patterns. Overall, 46% (N=286) responded, with the majority of respondents being Caucasian Americans (57%) and women (68%). The majority (58%) reported asking their physicians to refer them to a pain physician. African Americans were more likely to report that chronic pain was a major reason for financial problems. They made significantly more visits to the emergency room for pain care. African Americans agreed more that ethnicity and culture affected access to healthcare and pain management. They also tended to agree more than Caucasian Americans that pain medication could not control pain. These results demonstrate significant differences in healthcare utilization, access, and attitudes amongst African- and Caucasian Americans receiving chronic pain management. In light of the socioeconomic and health consequences of chronic pain, these results suggest the need for further studies addressing variability in pain care access and utilization in diverse populations.
ISSN:0027-9684
1943-4693