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.