Extensive global research shows that patients from minority ethnic backgrounds consistently receive lower quality pain recognition and treatment compared to white patients across various medical fields.

全球廣泛研究顯示，在各個醫療領域中，少數族裔背景的患者在疼痛識別與治療方面，其獲得的質量一致低於白人患者。

The 'ethnicity pain gap' is visible throughout a person's life, starting with children. Research from the University of Delaware suggests that racial bias affects how pain is perceived; for example, observers often need to see stronger signs of distress from Black children before they acknowledge the pain. Consequently, this delay leads to fewer recommendations for pain medication. Data from US emergency departments support this, showing that minority children with serious injuries, such as broken bones or appendicitis, are significantly less likely to receive opioids than white children, even when the injuries are equally severe.

「種族疼痛差距」在一個人的一生中都清晰可見，從兒童時期就開始。德拉瓦大學的研究表明，種族偏見會影響疼痛的感知；例如，觀察者通常需要看到黑人兒童表現出更強烈的痛苦跡象，才會承認其疼痛。因此，這種延遲導致疼痛藥物的建議次數減少。美國急診室的數據支持了這一點，顯示患有嚴重傷病（如骨折或闌尾炎）的少數族裔兒童，即使傷情同樣嚴重，接受鴉片類藥物的可能性明顯低於白人兒童。

In maternity care, these systemic differences are especially serious. Data from 2.7 million UK births reveal that women of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Black Caribbean descent are less likely to receive epidurals. Furthermore, Black Caribbean and African-British women are more likely to receive general anesthesia during planned C-sections, which is generally considered less safe than regional anesthesia. Experts emphasize that these outcomes are often caused by racial stereotypes. For instance, the 'strong Black woman' image may lead doctors to wrongly assume these patients have a higher tolerance for pain.

在產科護理中，這些系統性差異尤為嚴重。來自 270 萬宗英國分娩的數據顯示，孟加拉、巴基斯坦和黑加勒比裔女性接受硬膜外麻醉的可能性較低。此外，黑加勒比和非裔英國女性在計劃剖腹產期間更可能接受全身麻醉，而全身麻醉通常被認為不如區域麻醉安全。專家強調，這些結果通常是由種族刻板印象造成的。例如，「強悍黑人女性」的形象可能會導致醫生錯誤地假設這些患者對疼痛的耐受力較高。

Similar trends appear in adult care. A 2016 Boston University study of 60 million records found that Black patients were half as likely to receive opioids for certain conditions. These disparities also persist in the treatment of Sickle Cell disease and Parkinson's. Additionally, research from the University of Hull indicates that minority ethnic cancer patients receive lower doses of pain medication in their final months of life, which often leads to more hospital readmissions. These issues are frequently based on incorrect biological beliefs, such as the false idea that Black patients have thicker skin.

成年人護理中也出現了類似趨勢。波士頓大學 2016 年對 6,000 萬份紀錄的研究發現，黑人患者在針對某些病況接受鴉片類藥物的可能性僅為一半。這些差異在治療鐮刀型細胞貧血症和帕金森氏症中依然存在。此外，赫爾大學的研究指出，少數族裔癌症患者在生命最後幾個月接受的止痛藥劑量較低，這往往導致更多的住院再入院率。這些問題通常基於錯誤的生物學信念，例如黑人皮膚較厚的錯誤觀念。

Current evidence suggests that racial differences in pain management are caused by systemic biases and social stereotypes rather than biological differences. Therefore, there must be a fundamental change in institutional culture and how data is collected.

目前證據顯示，疼痛管理中的種族差異是由系統性偏見與社會刻板印象引起，而非生物學差異。因此，制度文化與數據收集方式必須有根本性的改變。