Racial Disparities in Pain Management and Future Opioid Misuse Risks in Emergency Departments

A recent study highlights significant racial disparities in pain treatment within emergency departments, revealing that Black patients are less likely to receive opioid prescriptions compared to White patients, especially when their pain management preferences are not met. This under-treatment of pain among Black patients can lead to increased risks of opioid misuse three months after their visit. Specifically, patients whose pain management expectations were unmet and who expressed dissatisfaction with their care showed a higher likelihood of engaging in opioid misuse, with Black patients disproportionately affected.

The research analyzed data from 735 individuals across six emergency departments at four academic centers, focusing on how unmet pain treatment preferences and patient satisfaction influence future misuse of opioids. Findings indicate that Black patients were more often discharged without an opioid prescription (21.8%) than White patients (15%). Moreover, Black patients who were dissatisfied with their pain management (rated 0/10) exhibited nearly twice the risk scores for misuse compared to their White counterparts, although this gap was not present among highly satisfied patients.

Interestingly, the study suggests that under-prescribing or ignoring patient preferences could unintentionally contribute to the opioid crisis, especially in Black communities. When patients felt their pain was adequately addressed, regardless of whether opioids were prescribed, they showed a reduced tendency for misuse.

The implications of this research are profound. It underscores the importance of equitable, patient-centered care and shared decision-making in pain management. Future investigations will explore the factors influencing patient satisfaction and how trust and communication between patients and healthcare providers can impact opioids misuse risk.

This study adds a new perspective to ongoing discussions about opioid prescribing practices, emphasizing that both overprescription and under-treatment can have detrimental consequences. Addressing racial disparities and ensuring fair, individualized pain management may be key to reducing long-term opioid misuse and overdoses in marginalized communities.

The findings were published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine and highlight the need for healthcare systems to balance safety with equitable treatment to prevent future opioid-related harms.

Source: MedicalXpress