Health care providers' race, age, level of education, and medical subspecialty were significant factors affecting their perceptions of pain management and intended treatment.

mastectomy were examined based on RxNorm. Descriptive and chi-square analyses were conducted using the in-built analytics TriNetX platform. Results: Analyses of TriNetX revealed 7,429 patients who had undergone a simple mastectomy during 2011-2018. Hypertension (47%), joint disorders (46%), osteoarthritis (28%), thyroid disorders (28%), and diabetes (18%) were among the most frequent comorbidities. Opioid analgesics were prescribed to 76% of mastectomy patients (n=5,628). Approximately 82% of African Americans (n=946) were prescribed opioids within one month post-mastectomy compared to 77% of White non-Hispanics (n=4,234). Opioid analgesics were prescribed to 60% of White Hispanics (n=281) and 50% of Asians (n=167). Chi-square analyses revealed statistically significant differences in opioid prescribing practices by race/ethnicity after simple mastectomy. Bivariate analyses revealed that African Americans were 1.3 times (OR=1.32; 95% CI 1.12 -1.56) more likely to receive prescription of opioids compared to White non-Hispanics counterparts. Compared to all other races/ethnicities, African Americans were 1.5 times (OR=1.54; 95% CI 1.32 -1.82) more likely to receive prescription of opioids within one month post-mastectomy. Conclusions: Racial/ethnic variability exists in opioid prescribing practices among patients who have undergone a simple mastectomy. Further research is needed to examine racial/ethnic disparities in both access to opioids and treatment.

Everyone comes into contact with health and social care services at some point in their lives, usually when they are at their most vulnerable. Anyone who has had experience of health and social care services will have vivid memories of the care that they received, whether good or bad. It is often the small things that result in patients perceiving that care is poor or good. For example, staff being too rushed to say hello to patients or greeting them with a welcoming smile.

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