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Study
Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites.
April 4, 2016
Hoffman KM, Trawalter S, Axt JR, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2016;113(16):4296-4301.
Compared with white patients, Black patients are less likely to receive adequate pain medication for appendicitis, noncancer pain, and fractures. This study asked white laypeople, medical students and residents about several common false beliefs about biological differences between Blacks and whites. Approximately 70% of laypeople endorsed at least one false belief, as did half of the students and residents. Participants who endorsed more false beliefs also reported lower pain ratings for Black patients versus white patients.
