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Author ORCID Identifier

Arvie Vitente: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7177-7704

Abstract

Introduction: Pain is a pervasive global health problem, yet its assessment and management remain shaped by biomedical, monolingual, and culturally narrow assumptions that do not fully reflect the lived realities of diverse populations. Although contemporary pain science recognizes pain as a personal experience influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors, inequities persist across racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups.

Main Body: These inequities affect how pain is expressed, interpreted, documented, and treated, particularly among Indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees, and patients with limited English proficiency. In this perspective, we call for the development of a comprehensive compendium on culturally responsive and inclusive pain management to be jointly led by World Physiotherapy and the International Association for the Study of Pain. We synthesize evidence on disparities in pain care, limitations of existing assessment tools and frameworks, and promising culturally responsive approaches, including interpreter-supported care, cultural mentoring, and co-designed community-based programmes. We propose that this compendium serve as a living, multilingual, and interdisciplinary resource that compiles diverse perspectives on pain, identifies research gaps, and offers actionable recommendations for practice, education, research, and policy.

Conclusion: A globally informed compendium is needed to advance equity, cultural humility, and inclusive practice in pain care. Immediate international collaboration is warranted to ensure that pain management becomes more ethical, responsive, and representative of the communities it seeks to serve.

 

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