Pain Management Among Older Farsi and Azeri Speaking Immigrant Adults With Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Interpretive Approach

Abstract

Objectives

Pain is a major public health issue in the United States. The ability to communicate the severity of pain with healthcare providers is crucial to receiving appropriate pain management. Many factors can limit this ability, including limited proficiency in the language spoken by providers. This body of research suggests gaps in the multidimensional approach to pain management for older adults with limited English proficiency (LEP). In this study, we describe the lived experiences of pain management of older adults with LEP living with chronic pain in the United States.

Methods

We used a qualitative interpretive approach with semi-structured interviews from nineteen Farsi and Azeri-speaking older adults with LEP and chronic pain to describe the lived experiences of older adults with LEP.

Results

Participants relied on alternative medicine to manage their pain and reported fears of becoming dependent on prescription pain medications. Some reported poor physician-patient rapport and felt unseen by healthcare providers, and all reported language barriers even with the use of translators.

Conclusions

Farsi and Azeri-speaking older adults with LEP and chronic pain felt the US healthcare system ignored their social, cultural, and linguistic needs. Pain management training for healthcare providers should address language barriers and include cultural competency.