8-1 Journal: Pain Assessment and Cultural Factors
As the assigned readings this week examined, there can be differences in beliefs and reactions to pain based on ethnic, cultural, and gender factors. In the journal for this week, discuss what you learned that was new information on this topic. Specifically, analyze different cultural, ethnic, or gender disparities in pain management. What strategies could you employ to assess pain in clients? Reflect on ways your own clinical practice may change as a result of the cultural factors examined. How would an effective, culturally relevant pain assessment impact collaboration across the continuum of care, and ultimately enhance client care?
Sample Answer
8-1 Journal: Pain Assessment and Cultural Factors
Pain management is a constantly evolving topic. The complexity of the pain management topic arises from the fact that cultural, ethnic, and gender factors impact a patient’s pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. There are a variety of cultural, ethnic, and gender disparities in pain management. Pain is often a subjective experience to different individuals despite arising from an objective sensory experience.
Research findings have, for instance, reported lower pain tolerance in minority racial groups in the United States. For instance, Hispanic and African American populations have been found to have lower pain tolerance than Whites. African Americans have also been found to exhibit more severe clinical pain and pain-related disability than other ethnic groups Nicolette & Long, 2021). Moving on to gender differences in pain management, a lot of research findings has shown that women are more likely to suffer from common pain conditions. Studies have shown women to have a higher pain sensitivity and lower pain inhibition mechanisms than men.
With pain reception differing on patients due to cultural and gender differences, there is a need to employ a culturally competent pain assessment strategy. Clinicians should be wary of overprescribing or under-prescribing opioids. A culturally competent paint assessment strategy will allow clinicians to communicate with their patients in a better way (Samarkandi, 2018). Understanding patient differences can help clinicians make better decisions regarding their pain and avoid the common biases about paint treatment.
A culturally relevant pain assessment strategy helps to investigate the unique pain needs of women and minority group patients. When different pain management needs are investigated and documented, clinicians in different settings will have substantial knowledge in understanding pain-needs. The availability of information ensures a consistent application of a culturally relevant pain assessment strategy, and thus, health practitioners make more informed decisions while handling dealing with different patients. The result is enhanced client care.
