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 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 Outcomes:

• 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 programme aims to provide healthcare professionals with an understanding of modern approaches for effective, patient-centred pain management and promote awareness of the lived experience of people who have to live with pain daily.

It is part of a suite of four courses that delve into the topic of pain. Although you can complete the Pain suite in any order, we suggest taking the courses in the following order:

• Part 1: Understanding pain
• Part 2: Pain management and assessment (explores pain treatment and management frameworks)
• Part 3: Analgesics
• Part 4: Specific patient groups (such as older people, pregnant women and cancer patients)

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 Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• define the phenomenon of pain
• understand the prevalence, epidemiology and impact of pain
• explain the 'Biopsychosocial model of pain' and its importance in delivering patient-centred care
• understand the impact of pain from a patient's perspective and how it affects their quality of life
• describe the mechanisms and pathophysiology of pain
• understand the different pain classification systems and their significance.

This programme aims to help healthcare professionals understand modern patient-centred approaches to pain management frameworks, pain assessment tools and strategies for enhancing self-management skills.

It is part of a suite of four courses that delve into the topic of pain. Although you can complete the Pain suite in any order, we suggest taking the courses in the following order:

• Part 1: Understanding pain
• Part 2: Pain management and assessment (explores pain treatment and management frameworks)
• Part 3: Analgesics
• Part 4: Specific patient groups (such as older people, pregnant women and cancer patients)

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 Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• outline the NICE stepped approach for treating mild to moderate acute pain
• understand the latest NICE guidance for treating chronic pain, encompassing primary and secondary chronic pain
• explain NICE-recommended non-pharmacological approaches for chronic pain management
• summarise the treatment and management of non-malignant neuropathic pain
• discuss various approaches and tools for pain assessment
• describe approaches to foster effective self-management of pain by patients, shared decision making and communicating risks associated with dependence-forming medicines.

The aim of this programme is to provide healthcare professionals with a better understanding of the pharmacological properties of the main analgesic drug groups and other pain treatments used in clinical practice.

It is part of a suite of four courses that delve into the topic of pain. Although you can complete the Pain suite in any order, we suggest taking the courses in the following order:

• Part 1: Understanding pain
• Part 2: Pain management and assessment (explores pain treatment and management frameworks)
• Part 3: Analgesics
• Part 4: Specific patient groups (such as older people, pregnant women and cancer patients)

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 Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• describe the pharmacological properties of the main types of analgesics used in the management of different types of pain
• discuss the use of adjuvant analgesics in pain management
• understand how to manage the risks and potential harms associated with opioids
• recognise the signs of opioid tolerance, dependence, toxicity, withdrawal and other harms
• explain the main safety considerations for different types of analgesics.

The aim of this programme is to provide healthcare professionals with a better understanding of pain management and treatment in specific patient groups such as older people, pregnant women and cancer patients.

It is part of a suite of four courses that delve into the topic of pain. Although you can complete the Pain suite in any order, we suggest taking the courses in the following order:

• Part 1: Understanding pain
• Part 2: Pain management and assessment (explores pain treatment and management frameworks)
• Part 3: Analgesics
• Part 4: Specific patient groups (such as older people, pregnant women and cancer patients)

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 Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• list the physiological factors that need to be considered with infants and older people when recommending analgesia
• discuss the management of non-labour pain during pregnancy and treatment of labour pain
• describe the analgesic options during breastfeeding
• understand approaches to postoperative pain
• define palliative care
• describe the World Health Organisation's Cancer Pain Ladder and strategies for managing cancer pain
• understand the priorities when providing end of life care.

This resource, developed by UK healthcare professionals and policymakers, provides the information to support a safe and effective prescribing decision.

Good practice in prescribing opioid medicines for pain should reflect fundamental principles in prescribing generally. The decision to prescribe is underpinned by applying best professional practice; understanding the condition, the patient and their context and understanding the clinical use of the drug.

Initiating, tapering or stopping opioid medicines should be managed in agreement with the patient and all members of their healthcare team. 

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?

This e-assessment completes the learning you began with the CPPE Controlled drugs in chronic pain: supporting patients with safe and effective use e-learning. Access and successful completion will contribute to your own personal development plan, be recorded in your My CPPE record and will enable you to complete a CPD entry on the learning. It may also provide evidence for achieving competencies in the different competency frameworks that apply across your career.

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.

This is a UK based initiative offering free evidence-based resources to support individuals living with chronic pain and the healthcare professionals who assist them. There are self-management strategies, aiming to empower people to lead fulfilling lives despite pain.