Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7515980 | International Journal of Nursing Studies | 2014 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
Results replicated findings of previous studies using virtual human patients to assess the effect of sex, race, and age in pain decision-making. In addition, healthcare professionals' pain ratings differed depending on healthcare profession. Nurses were more likely to rate pain higher and be more willing to administer opioid analgesics than were physicians. Healthcare professionals rated male and African American virtual human patients as having higher pain in most pain assessment and treatment domains compared to their demographic counterparts. Similarly the virtual human-sex difference ratings were more pronounced for nurses than physicians. Given the large number of patients seen throughout the healthcare professionals' careers, these pain practice biases have important public health implications. This study suggests attention to the influence of patient demographic cues in pain management education is needed.
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Authors
Laura D. Wandner, Marc W. Heft, Benjamin C. Lok, Adam T. Hirsh, Steven Z. George, Anne L. Horgas, James W. Atchison, Calia A. Torres, Michael E. Robinson,