Searching for relief: racial differences in treatment of patients with back pain

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of race/ethnicity on analgesic prescriptions for back pain. Using 1995–1998 data from the U.S. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, significant racial disparities were observed in the odds of prescriptions. African American (OR=0.67, CI=0.55, 0.83) and Hispanic patients (OR=0.70, CI=0.52, 0.93) were significantly less likely to be given prescriptions for back pain treatment than their White counterparts. These two groups also received fewer medications on average than Whites. When the sample was stratified by sex, the racial differences were even more startling. African American men (OR=0.49, CI=0.35, 0.68) and Hispanic men (OR=0.51, CI=0.33, 0.79) were considerably less likely than White men to be given prescriptions for back pain. In addition, African American male patients were less likely to receive any medications (prescribed or non-prescribed) for pain. The above findings remained even after controlling for pain severity and payment source. The authors concluded that prejudice and racial stereotyping among physicians are the most plausible explanations for the racial/ethnic differences in pain treatment.