Socioeconomic Socioeconomic Factors in PainFactors in Pain

Kevin PangKevin Pang

FocusFocus

Looking at how members of low Looking at how members of low socioeconomic status perceive, socioeconomic status perceive, express, and experience painexpress, and experience pain

HypothesisHypothesis

Poor people are subjected to more Poor people are subjected to more pain in their lives due to their pain in their lives due to their socioeconomic standingsocioeconomic standing

Poor people are less expressive Poor people are less expressive about their painabout their pain

JustificationJustification Physical laborers endure more and Physical laborers endure more and

express less pain due to the nature of express less pain due to the nature of their jobstheir jobs

Poor people do not have access to the Poor people do not have access to the same knowledge about medical same knowledge about medical treatmenttreatment

Poor people do not have the funds to Poor people do not have the funds to afford said medical treatmentafford said medical treatment

Poor people are exposed to health risks Poor people are exposed to health risks such as dirty water, poor diet, and such as dirty water, poor diet, and unsanitary living conditionsunsanitary living conditions

Case Studies / PapersCase Studies / Papers

Glasgow case study – found that Glasgow case study – found that people of lower socioeconomic people of lower socioeconomic status were less informed about status were less informed about medical treatment and felt more medical treatment and felt more vulnerable to illness because of it.vulnerable to illness because of it.

Norway case study – found a link Norway case study – found a link between socioeconomic status and between socioeconomic status and the risk for developing the risk for developing chronic/disabling back pain.chronic/disabling back pain.

Cast Studies / Papers Cast Studies / Papers (contd)(contd)

Denial of Chronic Pain paper – suggested Denial of Chronic Pain paper – suggested that people of lower socioeconomic that people of lower socioeconomic status who were poorly educated, lacked status who were poorly educated, lacked transferable skills, and performed heavy transferable skills, and performed heavy or repetitive physical labor would be less or repetitive physical labor would be less likely to express their pain.likely to express their pain.

Socioeconomic Status and Health paper Socioeconomic Status and Health paper – States that socioeconomic status – States that socioeconomic status directly influences how much pain a directly influences how much pain a person endures in their life.person endures in their life.

ConclusionsConclusions

Hypothesis was backed by case Hypothesis was backed by case studies and papers.studies and papers.

Socioeconomic status has an effect Socioeconomic status has an effect on the pain experience.on the pain experience.

The poor are exposed to health risks The poor are exposed to health risks and are frequently under treated and are frequently under treated because of their financial difficulties.because of their financial difficulties.

Society should take a closer look at Society should take a closer look at socioeconomic policies if it wishes to socioeconomic policies if it wishes to address this health issue.address this health issue.