Differences in Pain Experience Among Different Racial and Ethnic Groups

Elizabeth Lane; Chris Barnes; Julie M Fritz

doi:10.1093/ptj/pzae001

Differences in Pain Experience Among Different Racial and Ethnic Groups

Phys Ther. 2024 Jan 5:pzae001. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzae001. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Elizabeth Lane¹, Chris Barnes², Julie M Fritz³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
² OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA.
³ College of Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

PMID: 38181396
DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzae001

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the role of pain catastrophizing and pain self-efficacy as possible mediators of race-based differences in pain intensity, and to evaluate the possible moderating role of race on the relationship between pain catastrophizing and pain self-efficacy with pain outcomes among persons with chronic spinal pain receiving physical therapy.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized trial. Participants were persons with chronic spinal pain in outpatient physical therapy clinics who consented to complete assessments at baseline and after 2 weeks and 12 weeks. Assessments included pain intensity, physical function, pain catastrophizing, and self-efficacy. Baseline comparisons between Black and non-Hispanic White participants were made. Mediation analyses used a regression-based framework to examine whether baseline pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy mediated the association between race and pain intensity. Moderation analyses used multiple linear regression to evaluate the role of race in the relationship of baseline pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy with 12-week pain intensity outcomes.

Results: A total of 274 participants were included (51 [18.6%] Black and 223 [81.4%] non-Hispanic White; mean age = 51.6 years [SD = 14.9]; 180 [65.7%] female). At baseline, Black participants had higher pain intensity scores (mean difference = 0.80; 95% CI = 1.5 to 0.12). Both pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy mediated the relationship between race and baseline pain intensity. Race moderated the relationships between baseline pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy and 12-week pain intensity scores.

Conclusion: Pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy had differential impacts on pain intensity based on race for both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses among persons receiving physical therapy for chronic spinal pain.

Impact: Improved understanding of the differences in pain experience based on factors such as race, ethnicity, cultural background, and experience with the health care system may help reduce disparities in pain management.

Keywords: Catastrophizing; Intensity; Pain; Race; Self-Efficacy.