Practices Surrounding Pain Management Among American Indians and Alaska Natives in Rural Southern California: An Exploratory Study

Objectives This exploratory study examined pain management practices among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the service area of a rural tribal clinic in Southern California. Methods Researchers invited 325 individuals to complete an anonymous survey in clinic waiting rooms and tribal gatherings. Analyses of the 295 eligible responses included calculating frequencies and conducting multiple logistic regressions and a Mantel-Haenszel analysis. Results Among respondents in this study, being male, younger, and having less education were strong predictors for riskier methods for managing pain. Conclusions Understanding the methods individuals use to manage pain in a rural setting constitute a stepping-stone to develop strategies for reducing and preventing misuse and abuse of prescription medications and other drugs in rural American Indian and Alaska Native communities.