CHRONIC PAIN - 4 CONTACT HOURS

Course overview

It is estimated that 116 million United States (U.S.) citizens deal with chronic pain; estimated medical expenses and monetary losses associated with lost income and reduced productivity exceed $600 billion annually. Since pain is cited as the most common reason U.S. citizens access the healthcare system, healthcare providers will encounter patients experiencing pain in all healthcare settings. Proficiency in pain assessment, an understanding of the impacts of chronic pain, and knowledge of treatment options are crucial to the role of healthcare providers in obtaining positive patient outcomes. This educational course will present an overview of pain including definitions, various theories of pain, and pain mechanisms and pathways. A discussion of acute and chronic pain and sources of chronic pain will follow. The impact of chronic pain on personal, economic and social statuses will follow with an overview of pain assessment and treatment approaches. Throughout the course, case study content with response questions will be presented. These questions provide opportunity for application of covered content based on the presented patient. Finally, a list of educational resources related to pain and pain management will be provided. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1.Define pain according to the International Association for the Study of Pain and Margo McCaffrey. 2.Describe theories of pain including specificity, intensity, pattern, and gate control. 3.Describe pain mechanisms and pathways, and how these influence the interpretation of painful stimuli. 4.Contrast the categories of acute and chronic pain, including duration and other characteristics. 5.Identify common sources of chronic pain and potential associated problems. 6.Discuss the impact of chronic pain on personal, economic, and social statuses. 7.Describe the steps for conducting a pain assessment. 8.Describe pharmacological treatment options for chronic pain management. 9.Discuss the terms tolerance, dependency, addiction and abuse as related to the use of opioids in the treatment of chronic pain. 10.Describe non-pharmacological approaches for chronic pain management. 11.Discuss the importance of implementing best practice standards and using an interdisciplinary approach in caring for patients with chronic pain. 12.Explore educational and support resources available for patients experiencing chronic pain, patient families, and healthcare providers.