Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Pain Care

Both acute and chronic pain is often inadequately assessed and treated among people in mainstream healthcare, but this is particularly the case for people who have been historically, economically, and socially marginalized. Those who identify as indigenous, recent immigrants or refugees, people of color, LGBTQ+, women, less well educated, those living with mental health or substance-use challenges, or have experienced violence and trauma, are vulnerable to a higher prevalence of painful conditions, relative to nonmarginalized people.

This systemic challenge exists in selection bias in pain research, university training of licensed healthcare professionals, and in mainstream clinical practice. As licensed healthcare professionals who treat pain, we have a duty to recognize the role bias plays in the investigation and treatment of pain, raise awareness, and address the challenges of providing access to pain management for people who have been socially and economically marginalized. Those who face stigmatization and marginalization are at risk of not receiving health and social benefits broadly available to the population at large.