Pain Theory And Assessment Principles

Course overview

Pain is a universal phenomenon and its accurate and timely assessment is crucial in the comprehensive care of every patient. Pain is a subjective concept and is whatever the client says it is. Experienced across all age groups, across all socioeconomic levels, and in all settings, pain exists within the context of a culture, as well as within personal, physical, and psychological history. Pain and the search for relief is one of the primary reasons a client accesses the health care system. It is also one of the most complex and challenging problems in health care and biology. The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe pain theories, the types and physiology of pain, variables that affect it, strategies for conducting a complete pain assessment, barriers to assessment, the role of culture, and appropriate pain documentation.