A new study revealed black children with appendicitis are less likely to receive pain medication, according to Medical Daily.
Researchers analyzed data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care from 2003 to 2010. They look at nearly 1 million patients ages 21 or younger diagnosed with appendicitis in the emergency room.
Here are four key notes:
1. Fifty-seven percent received some form of pain medication, and 47 percent were given an opioid medication overall. Twenty-one percent of black children received an opioid compared to more than 40 percent of white children.
2. Researchers found white children who reported moderate pain were more likely to receive opioids than black children.
3. Various factors could impact these findings such as the conscious and unconscious bias of the provider, institutional practices, parental practices and societal preferences.
4. The study authors recommend healthcare facilities utilize national benchmarks to see how they compare to other facilities in the nation in terms of prescribing opioids. If the facility is prescribing more or less opioids for a certain condition, the facility can implement an education program for staff.
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