Equity in Pain Care: Why Representation Matters in Digital Health
- Joseph Roberts
- May 5
- 2 min read
Pain doesn’t feel the same for everyone. It doesn’t show up the same way and historically, it hasn’t always been treated the same way either.
Building tools that recognize and respect the diversity of human experiences is not just important; it’s essential for better outcomes in chronic pain care. Here’s why representation matters, and how we’re working to support more equitable care for every patient.
The Challenge: Different Experiences, Different Outcomes
Research shows that pain diagnosis and treatment can sometimes vary based on a patient’s background:
Black patients are less likely to receive pain medication compared to white patients, even with similar reports of pain levels.
Women’s pain has historically been under-assessed or attributed to psychological factors.
Older adults may have pain symptoms under-treated or attributed solely to aging.
Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian American patients also encounter unique barriers to pain assessment and treatment.
These patterns are not about any one individual’s intentions. Often, they reflect broader gaps in data, training, and system design. Recognizing them is the first step toward addressing them.
Where Digital Health Comes In
Digital health has incredible potential to help close these gaps, but only if we build with equity in mind.
Many technologies today rely on large datasets and algorithms to predict, track, and support care. If those datasets aren’t diverse or if the design doesn’t account for a large range of experiences, there’s a risk that digital tools could unintentionally miss or misunderstand some patients' needs.
That’s why representation matters so much.
When digital health includes a wider range of voices, experiences, and bodies, everyone benefits.
How Nanbar Health Builds for Equity
At Nanbar, we take a proactive approach to ensuring our technology supports equitable care:
Inclusive data sets: Our AI models are trained using a broad range of data across backgrounds and conditions.
Adaptable symptom tracking: Our mobile app and chatbot Willow are designed to recognize that pain can look different for different people, without assumptions.
Bias monitoring: We actively test and validate our technology to help prevent potential biases from affecting patient care insights.
We also engage closely with our research partners and clinical sites to continuously learn and improve, ensuring that our tools remain responsive and inclusive.
Why This Matters
Creating equity in digital health isn’t just about technology. It’s about trust, outcomes, and respect.
When patients feel seen and understood, they are more likely to engage in care, track their symptoms, and collaborate with their providers.
When providers have better, more representative data, they can make better, more informed decisions.
Learn More About Nanbar Health
At Nanbar, we’re building digital tools that support:
Smarter symptom tracking tailored to your lived experience
Friendly AI support through Willow, designed for real-world conversations
Real-time provider insights to better connect care teams with patient needs
We work with leading institutions like Duke Medical Center, UNC Health, and many others to help make equitable, proactive pain care the standard.
