Anesthesia That Understands: Precision Pain Management Beyond Stereotypes for Asian Americans (1 Class A CE with 1 Pain)

Asian Americans, currently making up over 12% of the U.S. population, are projected to reach 46 million by 2060. Despite being the fastest-growing group, pain disparities remain under-researched, with cultural, socioeconomic, and biological factors affecting pain perception and management. Anesthesia providers may misinterpret or inadequately address pain in this patient population, who often report lower pain intensity due to cultural norms. The goal of this presentation is to discuss the importance of developing precision pain management for Asian Americans requiring anesthesia.
This presentation will initially explore disparities in pain management for Asian Americans, highlighting key barriers and the impact of the "model minority" stereotype. We will delve into two aspects this precision anesthetic pain main management approaches will tailor to. The first are the pain attributes specific to this population, examining on how subjective experiences such as pain physiology, analgesia responses, interpretation, and expression, can influence pain management. Then the biological aspect of genetic polymorphism such as A118G in the OPRM1 gene—which affects opioid dose requirements and has a higher prevalence in this group—will be discussed.
Broadly, the presentation will also look to the future, advocating for a shift from race-based to precision pain management based on ancestry, genetics, together with psychological, social, and cultural factors. This recommended approach considers the increasing multiracial population and various sociocultural determinants. Such precision pain management could lead to improved quality of care and reduced healthcare costs, ultimately benefiting Asian Americans as a large subset and other diverse populations in the U.S.