Racialized bias in pediatric pain: the role of observers' attentional processing and estimations of children's pain.

BACKGROUND

Research demonstrates racism in pediatric pain care. However, the mechanisms underlying these injustices are not well understood. This study examined White observers' attentional processing of facial expressions of pain demonstrated by White . Black children and observers' estimations of the pain expressiveness levels of these children. Furthermore, we assessed whether differences in observers' attentional processing were influenced by observers' pain beliefs and the pain expressiveness level.

METHOD

Eighty White adults (42 women; 38 men) performed the visual search task (VST), rated the levels of pain that the children expressed, and reported their beliefs concerning the pain experience of White . Black children.

RESULTS

Findings revealed facilitated attentional engagement towards Black compared to White child pain faces, particularly at high pain expressiveness levels. No attentional disengagement effects were observed. Pain estimations increased with increasing pain expressiveness but, contrary to prior findings, did not differ for White . Black children. Observers' false pain beliefs did not significantly impact their attentional processing nor pain estimations.

CONCLUSIONS

The results underscore the importance of understanding how racialized disparities in observers' attentional processing of others' pain may contribute to racialized inequities in pediatric pain care.