While pain is prevalent among survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC), there is a lack of data on pain management in the community oncology setting. We described sociodemographic correlates and disparities associated with patient-reported pain among patients with HNC.

We used the 2017-2021 nationwide community oncology data set from Navigating Cancer, which included electronic patient-reported outcomes. We identified a retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with HNC (N = 25,572), with ≥ 1 patient-reported pain event. We adjusted for demographic (sex, age, smoking history, marital status) and clinical (cancer site) factors associated with pain reporting and pain resolution by new pain prescription on the basis of race (White v non-White patients), using multivariate logistic regression models.

Our analytic cohort included 2,331 patients, 90.58% White, 58.62% married, with an average age of 66.47 years. Of these, 857 patients (36.76%) reported ≥ 1 pain event during study period. Mean resolution time (in minutes) for pain incidents was significantly longer for White patients than non-White patients (99.6 ± 3.2 v 74.9 ± 7.2, P < .05). After adjusting for covariates, smoking was associated with a 25% increased odds of reporting pain incidents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.25; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.52). There was no statistically significant difference in odds of pain reporting between White versus non-White patients (aOR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.30). However, White patients were significantly more likely to receive new prescription for pain than non-White patients (aOR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.09 to 5.86).

We found racial differences in patient-reported pain management, with White patients significantly more likely to receive new pain prescriptions. As pain management is a mainstay in cancer care, equity in pain management is critical to optimize quality of life for patients with HNC.

Presented in part as a poster in the 2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, Boston, MA, September 24-25, 2021.

Conception and design: Arun Bhardwaj, Amila Patel, Blaine D. Smith, Rebecca L. Rohde, Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters

Administrative support: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters

Provision of study materials or patients: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters

Collection and assembly of data: Amila Patel, Sanjit Misra, Ben Pearson, Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters

Data analysis and interpretation: Julia E. Canick, Arun Bhardwaj, Amila Patel, Duaa Kuziez, Rylan Larsen, Sanjit Misra, Ben Pearson, Eric Adjei Boakye, Russel R. Kahmke, Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters

Manuscript writing: All authors

Final approval of manuscript: All authors

Accountable for all aspects of the work: All authors

AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Sociodemographic Differences in Patient-Reported Pain and Pain Management of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer in a Community Oncology Setting

The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated unless otherwise noted. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to www.asco.org/rwc or ascopubs.org/op/authors/author-center.

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Arun Bhardwaj

Employment: Navigating Cancer

Amila Patel

Employment: Navigating Cancer, Flatiron Health, Roche/Genentech

Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Roche/Genentech, Navigating Cancer

Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Navigating Cancer

Rylan Larsen

Employment: Olive AI

Sanjit Misra

Employment: Navigating Cancer, Zus Health, Amazon

Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Navigating Cancer

Ben Pearson

Employment: Navigating Cancer, Cala Health

Russel R. Kahmke

Consulting or Advisory Role: Avivomed

Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters

Consulting or Advisory Role: Navigating Cancer

Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Navigating Cancer

No other potential conflicts of interest were reported.