Chronic pain management by ethnically and racially diverse older adults: pharmacological and nonpharmacological pain therapies

Abstract

SUMMARY Aims: Exploration of racial and ethnic group differences in noncancer chronic pain management in older adults. Participants & methods: Qualitative data, which were collected in semistructured face-to-face interviews with 44 racially and ethnically diverse community-dwelling older adults (ten African–Americans, ten Hispanics, 12 Afro–Caribbeans and 12 non-Hispanic whites), were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Results: The three racial and ethnic minority groups were more likely to use culturally based treatments (e.g., herbal tea and avocado leaves), home remedies and folk medicine, and/or psychological therapies (e.g., distraction and relaxation) than non-Hispanic whites to manage chronic pain. African–Americans relied on religious coping methods. Non-Hispanic whites were more likely to use physical interventions such as massage and chiropractic treatment. Conclusion: Study findings suggest differences by ethnicity in preferred pain interventions for an older adult population.