LAUSR

Key Points Question Does the patient-physician relationship mediate the association between race and chronic pain outcomes? Findings This cross-sectional study among 1177 participants in a national pain research registry found significantly worse outcomes among Black vs White participants for pain intensity and disability. In mediation analyses, essentially none of the associations of race with either outcome was attributable to physician communication, physician empathy, or patient satisfaction. Meaning These findings suggest that factors other than the patient-physician relationship, such as lack of access to high-quality medical care, are likely related to pain disparities experienced by Black patients.