Race and gender biases in assessing pain intensity and medication needs among Chinese observers
2024

Race and Gender Biases in Pain Assessment by Chinese Observers

Sample size: 162 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Liu Zhiyuan, Chuang Tzu-Ying, Wang Shan

Primary Institution: Duke Kunshan University

Hypothesis

How do sufferers' race and gender affect Chinese observers' evaluations of pain intensity and medication needs?

Conclusion

Chinese observers are more stringent when assessing East Asian sufferers' pain compared to Black and White sufferers.

Supporting Evidence

  • Chinese observers rated Black and White sufferers' pain higher than East Asians.
  • Observers' beliefs about recovery times influenced medication recommendations.
  • Gender of the observer affected pain ratings, with female observers rating pain higher.

Takeaway

This study found that Chinese people judge pain differently based on the race and gender of the person in pain, often being stricter with East Asians.

Methodology

162 Chinese participants rated pain intensity and medication needs for East Asian, White, and Black sufferers based on facial expressions.

Potential Biases

Potential biases in pain assessment due to observers' stereotypical beliefs about race and gender.

Limitations

The study focused only on Chinese observers, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other cultures.

Participant Demographics

Participants were Mandarin-speaking Chinese adults aged 18 to 51, with a majority being women.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1097/PR9.0000000000001231

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