Occurrence of and referral to specialists for pain-related diagnoses in First Nations and non-First Nations children and youth.

This study explores differences in pain-related diagnoses in First Nations and non-First Nations children. METHODS: Data from a study population of age- and sex-matched First Nations and non-First Nations children and youth were accessed from a specific region of Atlantic Canada. The primary objective of the study was to compare diagnosis rates of painful conditions and specialist visits between cohorts. The secondary objective was to determine whether there were correlations between early physical pain exposure and pain in adolescence (physical and mental health). RESULTS: Although ear- and throat-related diagnoses were more likely in the First Nations group than in the non-First Nations group (ear 67.3% v. 56.8%, p < 0.001; throat 89.3% v. 78.8%, p < 0.001, respectively), children in the First Nations group were less likely to see a relevant specialist (ear 11.8% v. 15.5%, p < 0.001; throat 12.7% v. 16.1%, p < 0.001, respectively). First Nations newborns were more likely to experience an admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) than non-First Nations newborns (24.4% v. 18.4%, p < 0.001, respectively). Non-First Nations newborns experiencing an NICU admission were more likely to receive a mental health diagnosis in adolescence, but the same was not found with the First Nations group (3.4% v. 5.7%, p < 0.03, respectively). First Nations children with a diagnosis of an ear or urinary tract infection in early childhood were almost t...
Source: cmaj - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: CMAJ Source Type: research