Racial and gender inequalities in pain treatment: prevalence, causes and remedial strategies

REF: VCS-FEHHS-04-22

Certain groups of people (e.g., those of minority ethnic background) are undertreated for pain and undergo unnecessary suffering. However, our understanding of the extent to which this occurs, why it occurs and how to correct it is incomplete. Patient attitudes may be important. Latino and Black patients, for example, may under-report pain to avoid being labelled a ‘complainer’. Notably, treatment providers appear to be influenced by racial stereotypes of Black people being stronger and more insensitive to pain and therefore less in need of treatment. Physicians are also up to twice as likely to underestimate pain severity in Black patients despite systematic evidence of no differences. Ethnic minority patients may also be perceived as more likely to misuse prescription opioids than White patients. Although there is less work devoted to examining sex differences in treatment, growing evidence suggests females respond differently to analgesic medication. Females also experience a greater range of painful conditions and report more severe pain. As such, it is unclear whether any differences in treatment result from genuine differences in pain severity or clinicians’ gender stereotypes about how men and women feel pain.

The overall aim of this PhD is to better understand the existence of inequalities, their underlying processes, and potential strategies for reducing disparities in pain treatment. To do so, the PhD will involve a systematic review and meta-analysis of racial/ethnic and sex differences in pain treatment and a series of experimental studies that assess and evaluate theory-driven factors that explain and tackle such inequalities. The PhD student will have a solid background in a relevant area to the proposed PhD project (1^st Class or 2^nd Class honours degree), such as Psychology or Health; a good understanding of social psychological and health literature and methodologies; good statistical (quantitative) skills.

Duration - 3 years full time study and 6 years part time study

Bursary available (subject to satisfactory performance):  

Year 1: £16,062 (FT) or pro-rata (PT) Year 2: In line with UKRI rate Year 3: In line with UKRI rate

 In addition, the successful candidate will receive a contribution to tuition fees equivalent to the university’s Home rate, currently £4,596 (FT) or pro-rata (PT), for the duration of their scholarship. International applicants will need to pay the remainder tuition fee for the duration of their scholarship. This fee is subject to an annual increase.

Person Specification

·        1^st Class or 2^nd class, First Division (Upper Second Class) honours degree or a taught master’s degree with a minimum average of 60% in all areas of assessment (UK or UK equivalent) in a relevant area to the proposed research project, e.g. Psychology.

 ·        For those whose first language is not English and/or if from a country where English is not the majority spoken language (as recognised by the UKBA), a language proficiency score of at least IELTS 6.5 (in all elements of the test) or an equivalent UK VISA and Immigration secure English Language Test is required, if your programme falls within the faculty of Engineering and Science a language proficiency score of at least IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in all elements of the test or an equivalent UK VISA and Immigration secure English Language Test is required. Unless the degree above was taught in English and obtained in a majority English speaking country, e.g. UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, etc, as recognised by the UKBA.

 ·        Previous experience of undertaking research (e.g. undergraduate or taught master’s dissertation)

 ·        Demonstrable subject-specific research interests

 ·        Excellent analytical and statistical (quantitative) skills

 ·        Excellent organisational and IT communication skills

 ·        Understands the fundamental differences between a taught degree and a research degree in terms of approach and personal discipline/motivation

 ·        Able to, under guidance, complete independent work successfully

 ·        This scholarship may require Academic Technology Approval Scheme approval for the successful candidate if from outside of the EU/EEA

 ·        The scholarship must commence before 1^st January 2023

Please read this information before making an application. Information on the application process is available at: https://www.gre.ac.uk/research/study/apply/application-process. Applications need to be made online via this link - please ignore the request for a 1500-word research proposal when asked, as this is not required for this application. No other form of application will be considered. Please ensure that you select ‘MPhil/PhD Human Sciences’ from the list to ensure prompt processing of applications.

All applications must include the following information. Applications not containing these documents will not be considered.

•       VC Scholarship Reference Number (Ref)– included in the personal statement section

•       Personal Statement - outlining your motivation for applying for this PhD, and your previous research experience (e.g., as a research assistant or completing a dissertation).

•       Academic qualification certificates/transcripts*

•       IELTS/English Language certificate if you are an international applicant or if English is not your first language or you are from a country where English is not the majority spoken language as defined by the UK Border Agency *

•       Your complete CV*

•       Two reference letters (one ideally from a dissertation supervisor)*

*upload to the qualification section of the application form. Attachments must be in PDF format.  You will need to submit this as 1 single PDF document uploaded as an attachment.

Before submitting your application, you are encouraged to liaise with the Lead Supervisors on the details above.