Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40520808›Full record

ArticleJournal of pain research2025

Exploring Racial Disparities in Chronic Pain Management.

Anthony J Vargas, Leah Tobey-Moore, Geoffrey M Curran, Rania Elkhateb, Kevin W Sexton, Brett J Bailey, Corey Nagel, Johnathan H Goree

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of pain research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Anthony J VargasArkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, AR, USA.
Leah Tobey-MooreDepartment of Psychiatry, Center for Health Services Research, and Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Geoffrey M CurranCollege of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Rania ElkhatebDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Kevin W SextonDepartment of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Brett J BaileyDepartment of Clinical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Corey NagelDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Johnathan H GoreeDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0548-852X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Addressing racial disparities in chronic pain management referrals and prescribing is critical for ensuring equitable healthcare outcomes. Understanding these disparities is crucial for developing effective, patient-centered treatment strategies. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study of 19,919 patients diagnosed with chronic non-cancer pain between 7/1/2020 and 7/1/2022 was conducted at a major academic medical center. Patients' demographics, pain types, and treatment modalities were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression models to evaluate racial differences in pain management referrals and opioid prescriptions. Results: Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Hispanic patients had significantly lower odds of receiving interventional pain (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.72 and 0.40, respectively) and neurosurgical referrals (OR = 0.66 and 0.49, respectively) compared to Non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients. Conversely, NHB patients were more likely to receive orthopedic surgery (OR = 1.40) and physical therapy referrals (OR = 1.16). Additionally, both NHB and Hispanic patients had lower odds of receiving opioid therapy (OR = 0.75 and 0.47, respectively) compared to NHW patients. Conclusion: This study highlights significant racial disparities in chronic pain management, with NHB and Hispanic patients receiving fewer referrals to specialist care and lower opioid prescription rates compared to NHW patients. Strategies to address these disparities include provider education on implicit bias, cultural sensitivity training, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare resources. Further research is needed to explore the root causes of these disparities and develop targeted interventions to improve healthcare equity for all patients.

Indexed as

discrepancieshealth inequalityhealth outcomes

Identifiers

PMID40520808
PMCPMC12164869

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.