ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES IN ANALGESIC CONSUMPTION FOR POSTOPERATIVE PAIN

Objective: To examine the influence of patient ethnicity on receipt of postoperative analgesia. Method Chart review of 250 consecutive patie nts hospitalized for open reduction and internal fixation of a limb fr acture. Analgesics consumption in the postoperative period was measure d in terms of morphine equivalents. Results: There were significant di fferences (p < .005) in analgesics administered to black, Hispanic, an d white patients. Whites received 22 mg/day, blacks 16 mg/day, and His panics 13 mg/day. These ethnic differences persisted after controlling for possible confounding variables. Conclusion: Ethnicity exerts a po werful impact on medical care. We cannot determine from our data wheth er these differences stem from differences in pain behavior of the pat ients or differences in medical staffs perception and treatment of suc h patients.