• Christopher M Murtaugh, Katherine L Beissner, Yolanda Barrón, Melissa A Trachtenberg, Eileen Bach, Charles R Henderson, Sridevi Sridharan, and Manny C Reid.
• *Center for Home Care Policy & Research ‡Department of Compliance & Regulatory Affairs, Visiting Nurse Service of NY ∥Division of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York †Department of Physical Therapy Education, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse §Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
• Clin J Pain. 2017 Apr 1; 33 (4): 300309300-309.

ObjectivesTo describe racial/ethnic group differences in pain presentation and the prevalence of psychosocial factors among patients admitted to home health care, and to determine the extent of racial/ethnic group differences in the association of psychosocial factors with pain intensity and pain-related disability.MethodsWe analyzed cross-sectional data on 588 patients with activity-limiting pain admitted to home care for physical therapy. Three psychosocial factors were assessed: depressive symptoms, pain self-efficacy, and health literacy. Statistical methods included estimation of general linear models of pain intensity and pain-related disability.ResultsHispanics and non-Hispanic blacks report a greater number of pain sites, worse pain intensity, and higher levels of pain-related disability than non-Hispanic whites and others. Racial/ethnic minority group patients also have a higher prevalence of adverse psychosocial factors than others, with evidence that race/ethnicity interacts with pain self-efficacy and depressive symptoms in their association with mean pain intensity and pain-related disability, respectively.DiscussionThe substantial racial/ethnic difference in the psychosocial profiles of older adults with activity-limiting pain highlights the importance of screening for these modifiable risk factors and tailoring interventions accordingly. Direct attention to the psychosocial needs of patients could help to address racial/ethnic disparities in pain outcomes.

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