JAMA: 2008-01-02, Vol. 299, No. 1, Author in the Room Audio Interview

Interview with Mark J. Pletcher, MD, MPH, author of Trends in Opioid Prescribing by Race/Ethnicity for Patients Seeking Care in US Emergency Departments. Summary Points: 1. Doctors appear to prescribe opioids less often to blacks and Hispanics/Latinos than they do to whites in the emergency department. 2. These differences do not appear to be explained by differences in type or severity of pain. To address these disparities, we would recommend: 1. Educating patients to make sure non-white patients expect good pain control and know how/when to ask for it. 2. Educating physicians and nurses about the existing disparities and the need to eliminate them, specifically addressing fears of prescription opioid abuse and other reasons physicians may withhold opioids. 3. Creating systems that minimize barriers to prescribing and monitor resolution of pain. 4. Monitoring quality of care by measuring resolution of pain and collecting and analyzing data by race/ethnicity.