Disparities Between Black and White Patients with Cancer Pain: The Effect of Perception of Control over Pain

CONTEXT: Pain continues to be a problem in ambulatory patients with cancer. Disparities in minority patients with pain have been previously identified. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of perception of control over pain on disparities in pain, symptom distress, and functional status in white and black patients with cancer. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive. SETTING: Outpatient clinic in a large urban cancer center. PATIENTS: A total of 281 patients who reported having pain within the last month and were receiving treatment in the cancer center. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain intensity, pain-related distress, functional status, perception of control over pain. RESULTS: Black patients had significantly higher pain intensity, more pain-related distress, and reported more pain-related interference with function than white patients. Disparities in pain-related distress and functional status were significantly reduced and only disparities in pain intensity remained when perception of control over pain was held constant. CONCLUSIONS: Perception of control over pain is an important factor in understanding responses to pain. Increasing a patient's perception of control over pain may decrease disparities and increase functional status.