Pain

Transcript

Welcome to the CPPE page on pain, which introduces you to resources that CPPE and other organisations provide around this topic.

It is difficult to precisely quantify the number of people who experience chronic pain. A European study from 2006 concluded that ‘on average one in five adult Europeans suffer from chronic pain, although there are variations between countries, with the UK having an average prevalence rate of 13%’

What this means is that as a healthcare professional, you are very likely to see patients living with pain as a routine part of your practice.

Use our pain learning resources and assessment to update your knowledge and develop your skills to assess, treat and manage pain effectively. You can broaden your scope of practice by learning more about pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options.

Learn how to ensure that your consultations with patients living with long term pain engage the patient in evidence based treatment options and decisions around the management of their pain.

The aim of this learning programme is to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and expertise to assess, treat and manage pain effectively.

Please note: this e-learning programme has been developed and provided by the Northern Ireland Centre for Pharmacy Learning and Development (NICPLD). Users should recognise that this programme will refer to Northern Ireland's policies and organisations. After ordering this programme, you will be redirected to their website where the resource is hosted. Please be aware that CPPE does not maintain control over the accuracy and currency of this programme.

Learning Objectives:

• define and classify pain
• detail methods of assessing pain
• describe recommended analgesic options for treating pain
• list non-pharmacological pain management options
• recognise key considerations when managing pain in specific patient groups
• explain the pain relief priorities for patients with cancer and at end of life.

This e-learning programme has been developed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to support anyone who prescribes, dispenses or administers opioids to patients. It identifies the hazards of commonly used opioids such as fentanyl and tramadol and advises on the actions that health professionals should take to anticipate, minimise and manage the clinical risks to patients. The module is followed by a short online assessment.

Please note: this e-learning programme has been developed and provided by the MHRA. After ordering this programme, you will be redirected to their website where the resource is hosted. Please be aware that CPPE does not maintain control over the accuracy and currency of this programme.

Learning Objectives:

• outline the common adverse effects and principal risks associated with opioid medicines
• describe risk reduction measures to minimise the adverse effects of opioid use
• locate MHRA safety alerts and information on opioid use
• advise patients and prescribers on the safer use of opioid medicines.

The aim of this e-learning programme is to support you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to support patients to use prescribed controlled drugs safely and effectively, with a focus on controlled drugs used in chronic pain. It will allow you to explore the risks, challenges and consequences associated with a growing use of prescribed controlled drugs, and how to apply a shared decision-making approach to discussions involving controlled drugs.

Learning Objectives:

• describe the risks, challenges and consequences associated with a growing use of prescribed controlled drugs
• identify people who may benefit from support with their use of controlled drugs
• support patients with chronic pain to consider alternative options to controlled drugs use
• develop your professional network to support you to deliver personalised care for people taking controlled drugs
• apply a shared decision-making approach to discussions involving controlled drugs
• apply your learning to make changes to your practice to improve the safe and effective use of controlled drugs.

This e-assessment is linked with the CPPE Controlled drugs in chronic pain: supporting patients with safe and effective use e-learning programme and assesses you on the learning outcomes in that programme.

Why should I do this assessment?

Work your way around the Palliative care learning topic, taking part in bite-sized interactive challenges that will help you and your team support patients with the management of pain, fatigue, mouth problems and other common side-effects of palliative care.

You can access this learning here: Palliative care - theLearningpharmacy.com

The individual floors on this resource may not have been updated for more than 12 months. The next review of this resource will take place in 2023. When working through the hotspot activities on each floor, you should make sure that you are using the most up-to-date guidance and resources available in order to support both you and your team effectively.

Learning Objectives:

• provide advice and signposting on self-care and public health
• explain how you would develop and deliver a successful pharmacy service
• support a person presenting with a new prescription
• describe how to advise appropriately a patient requesting an OTC medicine
• identify and meet the professional development needs of the pharmacy team.

Work your way around the NSAIDs learning topic, taking part in bite-sized interactive challenges that will help you and your team support and give advice to people wanting to purchase over-the-counter NSAIDs. The challenges will also help you support people suffering with adverse effects to NSAIDs, and people with long-term conditions, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

You can access this learning here: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - theLearningpharmacy.com

The individual floors on this resource may not have been updated for more than 12 months. The next review of this resource will take place in 2023. When working through the hotspot activities on each floor, you should make sure that you are using the most up-to-date guidance and resources available in order to support both you and your team effectively.

Learning Objectives:

WHO has developed a three-step "ladder" for cancer pain relief in adults.

This guideline covers assessing and managing low back pain and sciatica in people aged 16 and over. It outlines physical, psychological, pharmacological and surgical treatments to help people manage their low back pain and sciatica in their daily life. The guideline aims to improve people’s quality of life by promoting the most effective forms of care for low back pain and sciatica.

Analgesia - mild-to-moderate pain management: scenarios

This guideline covers managing neuropathic pain (nerve pain) with pharmacological treatments (drugs) in adults in non-specialist settings. It aims to improve quality of life for people with conditions such as neuralgia, shingles and diabetic neuropathy by reducing pain and promoting increased participation in all aspects of daily living. The guideline sets out how drug treatments for neuropathic pain differ from traditional pain management.