The Critical Role of Social Aspects of Pain in Advancing Health Equity in Pain Care: Past, Present, and Future

Produced by IASP's Social Aspects of Pain Special Interest Group (SocSIG), this seminar - which took place on 7 February 2023 - examined the role of social factors as determinants of whether people will experience - and how they express - pain in everyday and healthcare settings.

This was conceptualized in a model examining risk factors for how people think, feel and sense pain, how pain influences behavior and communication with others, and how others respond. The intent was to encourage greater consideration of the social environment in understanding and controlling pain.

The presenters reviewed the history of social aspects of pain research that have been foundational to the development of this model, and contemporary examples of how this model is being used to promote health equity in pain research and care.

Participants included:

• Kenneth D. Craig, OC, PhD, FCAHS, University of British Columbia, Canada
• Katelynn Boerner, PhD, RPsych, University of British Columbia, Canada
• Joanna L. McParland, PhD, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland (moderator)