February 13, 2008
Who wants an epidural?
Researchers have noted a disparity in the likelihood of a patient wanting an epidural.
From Reuters:
Of the nearly 1,200 surgery candidates researchers questioned, black patients were about 40 percent less likely than white patients to say they would accept an epidural. Similarly, patients with annual incomes above $50,000 were more likely to want an epidural than lower-income patients were.
The Reuters article goes on to say that epidurals are effective in treating pain after surgery and high levels of pain can lead to chronic pain.
The full study can be found in Anesthesia and Analgesia.