of the Hispanic and 31% of the African-American patients received analgesics of insufficient strength to manage their pain. Although the majority of patients received appropriate analgesics, 65% reported severe pain. Physicians underestimated pain severity for 64% of the Hispanic and 74% of the African-American patients. Physicians were more likely to underestimate the pain severity of female patients than male patients. Inadequate pain assessment, patient reluctance to report pain, and lack of staff time were perceived as barriers to pain management. CONCLUSIONS. Although the data suggest recent improvements in analgesic prescribing practices for African-American and Hispanic cancer patients, the majority of patients reported high levels of pain and limited pain relief from analgesic medications. Inadequate pain assessment remains a major barrier to optimal cancer pain treatment.
something to remember the next time the experts decide to make it harder for patients in pain to get pain medicines because they might be diverted.Yes diversion is a problem, as is family mamembers or friends who steal their medicine. But most of the overdose deaths are from street drugs, so why make patient suffer?
Ahd where the hell are the pastors/bishops/pope on this? It was the methodist/Baptists who worked against the cheap gin and alcohol abuse two centuries ago, but aside from AA in church basements, too often the preventive instructions in sermons is not part of their job.
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