Hispanics Are Suffering From Untreated Pain.

A new study has discovered that a surprising number of Hispanics are suffering from persistent pain, with many not seeking treatment from a doctor who could help them.

The study, published in the Journal of Pain, found that 20 percent of Americans with chronic pain have never seen a physician for their pain and only 5 percent have consulted a pain specialist. Hispanics were less likely to obtain care than Caucasians or African-Americans.

Chronic pain was reported by 35 percent of Caucasians, 39 percent of African-Americans, and 28 percent of Hispanics.

These numbers confirm “the magnitude of pain as a national public health problem,” said Dr. Russell Portenoy, Chairman of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, and lead author of the study.

According to the American Pain Foundation, approximately 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from persistent pain.

The study found that Hispanics were significantly less likely to have sought help from a doctor for pain than Caucasians or African-Americans, and were more likely than the other two groups to treat their pain without the help of a medical professional. Overall, respondents who had never consulted a healthcare professional were more likely to speak Spanish at home than those who sought help.

Hispanics were significantly less likely to have medical insurance than Caucasians or African-Americans. Hispanics were significantly more likely than Caucasians or African-Americans to say financial concerns prevented them from treating their pain.

“This study validates what most Latinos have known for a long time—that lack of medical insurance and proficient health education along with language barriers all impede access to care, especially when it comes to pain management,” said Venus Ginés, CEO/Founder of Día de la Mujer Latina, Inc.

“These findings highlight the need for increased efforts in improving access to care for the Latino population,” said Carlos Ugarte, MSPH, Institute for Hispanic Health, National Council of La Raza, who co-authored this study.

The study was commissioned by Partners Against Pain and funded through an unrestricted grant from the Purdue Pharma Fund. Partners Against Pain is an alliance of patients, caregivers and healthcare providers working together to alleviate unnecessary suffering by improving pain care through education and advocacy. Since its inception, the program has helped thousands of people live a healthier life.

For more information at http://www.partnersagainstpain.com