Improved Confidence in Pain Management for Minority Populations Can Improve Care Disparities

This article reporting outcomes of pain CME nicely highlights the fact that clinical educational effectiveness depends on everyday practice factors—in this case, the demographics of the patient population. In looking at influences on undertreatment of pain in minority populations, researchers Bekanich et al identified “language barriers, miscommunication, fear of medication diversion, and financial barriers as major obstacles to optimal pain management.” 

In this field, where patient education and shared decision-making are critical to effective care, interpersonal communication gaps can quickly reduce the quality of care. The authors note that increased confidence in caring for disadvantaged patients, which is a measure of competence and professionalism, improved after continuing education on pain management disparities. The researchers also did not shy away from reporting suboptimal knowledge-level outcomes. Increased confidence in care practices is more likely to change a clinician’s practice than increased knowledge is, and I cannot think of a more appropriate topic for addressing care disparities: pain management is one of the most widely discussed concerns in American life.