Cultural Influence on the Assessment and Treatment of Chronic Pain

Abstract

The therapeutic management of pain, both acute and chronic, is of international concern. It is important, in particular, to health care providers in all countries and in all health care settings, be that of hospital, home health care, residential care, ambulatory care, or hospice care. To assess pain properly, it is essential to be aware of the cultural implications and meanings that pain has for each person experiencing it. The meaning given to a particular painful experience is influenced by a person's culture. This article compares the differences in meaning that patients with chronic pain in the United States and those with chronic pain in India described when interviewed. Patients in both cultures who find meaning in their pain show markedly less suffering than those who find pain to be meaningless.