Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41099478›Full record

ArticleJournal of oral rehabilitation2026

Intersectional Bias in Healthcare-The Inequity Borne by the Patients: A Qualitative Study.

Alicia Böthun, Anncristine Fjellman-Wiklund, Fredrik Hellström, Britt-Marie Stålnacke, Birgitta Häggman-Henrikson, Justin Durham, Anna Lövgren

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of oral rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

7 authors.

Alicia BöthunDepartment of Odontology, Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1932-9610
Anncristine Fjellman-WiklundDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3334-1376
Fredrik HellströmDepartment of Odontology, Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4556-2846
Britt-Marie StålnackeDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2916-0628
Birgitta Häggman-HenriksonDepartment of Odontology, Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6088-3739
Justin DurhamSchool of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5968-1969
Anna LövgrenDepartment of Odontology, Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2920-6654

Funding

Swedish Dental AssociationVästerbotten County Council RV-909851Västerbotten County Council RV-990480
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCare should be neutral and equal, but normative beliefs may impact the interaction between patients and healthcare professionals in pain management.

objectivesTo explore how patients with jaw and neck pain perceive pain management and the interaction with healthcare professionals in relation to intersectionality, with a specific focus on gender.

methodsRecruitment was performed at a specialist dentistry clinic in Sweden. Inclusion criteria were patients aged 18-70 years, reporting jaw and neck pain and understanding the Swedish language. Exclusion criteria were rheumatic disease, temporomandibular joint arthralgia or arthritis. Using purposive sampling, 16 patients (11 women) aged 19-56 were interviewed using individual semi-structured interviews. The analysis was performed using thematic analysis.

resultsThe analysis resulted in the theme: 'Intersectional bias in healthcare - the inequity borne by the patients', with five subthemes that entailed different types of bias related to the participants' personal characteristics and their interaction with healthcare professionals. Health-related stigmata was one subtheme described among participants, resulting in labelling and burden in the encounter. Other subthemes also described bias in relation to biological differences among pain patients and patients not being taken seriously due to, for example, female gender and younger age. Two subthemes also described bias in relation to the healthcare professionals' gender and age.

conclusionNormative beliefs have a negative impact on the interaction between patients and healthcare professionals in pain management. Since patient-provider interaction should be neutral and equal, intersectional bias should be acknowledged to prevent health and care inequalities.

Indexed as

Facial PainHealthcare DisparitiesPain ManagementAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedProfessional-Patient RelationsQualitative ResearchSwedenYoung Adultgender differenceshealthcare disparitiesintersectionalityneck paintemporomandibular joint disorders

Identifiers

PMID41099478
PMCPMC12813528

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.