Engaging parents in analgesia selection and racial/ethnic differences in analgesia given to pediatric patients undergoing urologic surgery

Abstract

Background: Family-centered care aims to consider family preferences and values in care delivery. Our study examines parent decisions regarding anesthesia type (caudal regional block or local anesthesia) among a diverse sample of children undergoing urologic surgeries. Differences in anesthesia type were examined by known predictors of health disparities, including child race/ethnicity, parental English proficiency, and a proxy for household income. Methods: A retrospective review of 4739 patients (including 25.4% non-Latino/a White, 8.7% non-Latino/a Asians, 7.3% non-Latino/a Black, 23.1% Latino/a, and 35.4% others) undergoing urologic surgeries from 2016 to 2020 using univariate and logistic regression analyses. Results: 62.1% of Latino/a parents and 60.8% of non-Latino/a Black parents did not agree to a regional block. 65.1% of Spanish-speaking parents with limited English Proficiency did not agree to a regional block. Of parents from households below poverty lines, 61.7% did not agree to a caudal regional block. In regression analysis, Latino/a and non-Latino/a Black youth were less likely to receive caudal regional block than non-Latino/a White patients. Conclusions: We found disparities in the use of pediatric pain management techniques. Understanding mechanisms underlying Latino/a and non-Latino/a Black parental preferences may help providers reduce these disparities.