A systematic review of western medicine's understanding of pain experience, expression, assessment, and management for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Abstract

Although pain is a near-universal experience, pain expression and beliefs are highly variable and can affect assessment and management of pain. This systematic review seeks to synthesize the research findings regarding pain management for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples addressing variation as voiced by patients, clinicians, and researchers alike. A systematic review was performed across 7 research databases for all articles related to pain within Indigenous Australian peoples. Additional literature was identified by hand-searching reference lists. Articles were restricted to literature which addressed pain within Indigenous Australians as the primary focus of the article. Thematic analysis was performed to group articles according to those which focussed on the experience, expression, assessment, or management of pain. A total of 294 articles were identified on initial search of literature, of which 20 met inclusion criteria for this study. This review captured gross heterogeneity in cohorts, research methodologies, and conditions studied, making generalized assumptions impossible and inappropriate. Studies suggest that the beliefs of both patients and practitioners are important considerations in approaching effective assessment and management of pain. Health practitioners should appreciate how our own beliefs influence the management of patients and must ensure community consultation is undertaken in order to improve pain assessment and management.

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