Opioids, the pharmacist and the junior doctor: reducing prescribing error

(Re)Development of pain target competencies in a contemporary, multi-centre undergraduate medical curriculum: The importance of local cultural requirements

Pain is the most common reason to seek healthcare, however pain teaching is often not prominent in medical school curricula. This project reviewed an existing medical curriculum to develop a comprehensive pain curriculum that consolidated pain learning across a medical degree delivered on geographically-distinct campuses, looking to provide contemporary pain learning that was culturally appropriate in a local context. A cross-campus, interdisciplinary pain working group (PWG) was established to work across the two program stages (pre-clinical, clinical) and three clinical campuses. The PWG undertook a three-phase project to i) develop a range of potential target competencies based on expert input and international pain curricula, ii) identify and review existing pain competencies, and iii) undertake iterative review of information, consult with stakeholders, and propose revised competencies. Eight pain competencies were identified within the extant curriculum. Recommendations included two existing competencies remained unchanged, four be modified, two merged, and 26 new competencies adopted including some specific to local Indigenous Māori and Pacific Island communities. The 33 pain target competencies were structured across different teaching domains: science, research, and scholarship (n = 5); population health and epidemiology (n = 3); clinical skills (n = 5); and diagnostics and therapeutics (n = 20). Contemporary pain learning, including around Indigenous health, was not adequately represented. New target competencies were adopted to ensure pain learning is appropriate for medical practice in Aotearoa New Zealand, containing competencies specific to Māori and Pacific Island communities. Curricula review needs to consider local cultural requirements while integrating international best practice to ensure pain learning is appropriate. PERSPECTIVE: A comprehensive pain curriculum was developed across a multi-campus medical school setting. Through a three-phase project, existing pain competencies were reviewed and new target competencies developed, including those specific to local Indigenous communities. Findings highlight the importance of ensuring contemporary curricula include pain learning that is culturally focused and relevant.

The Pain Medicine Curriculum Framework-structured integration of pain medicine education into the medical curriculum

Medical practitioners play an essential role in preventing pain, conducting comprehensive pain assessments, as well as promoting evidence-based practices. There is a need for the development of innovative, interprofessional and integrated pain medicine curricula for medical students. The Pain Medicine Curriculum Framework (PMCF) was developed to conceptualise a purposeful approach to the complex process of curriculum change and to prioritise the actions needed to address the gaps in pain medicine education. The PMCF comprises four dimensions: (1) future healthcare practice needs; (2) competencies and capabilities required of graduates; (3) teaching, learning and assessment methods; and (4) institutional parameters. Curricula need to meet the requirements of registration and accreditation bodies, but also equip graduates to serve in their particular local health system while maintaining the fundamental standards and values of these institutions. The curriculum needs to connect knowledge with experience and practice to be responsive to the changing needs of the increasingly complex health system yet adaptable to patients with pain in the local context. Appropriate learning, teaching and assessment strategies are necessary to ensure that medical practitioners of the future develop the required knowledge, skills and attitudes to treat the diverse needs of patients' experiencing pain. The historical, political, social and organisational values of the educational institution will have a significant impact on curriculum design. A more formalised approach to the development and delivery of a comprehensive pain medicine curriculum is necessary to ensure that medical students are adequately prepared for their future workplace responsibilities.

Widening how we see the impact of culture on learning, practice and identity development in clinical environments

As part of this State of the Science series on Self, Society and Situation, we focus on how we might see the situation of the workplace as a learning environment in the future. Research to date into how health professionals learn while working in clinical workplace environments has mostly focused on the supervisor-trainee relationship or on the interaction between the affordances of a workplace and the receptiveness of trainees. However, the wider environment has not received as much focus-though frequently mentioned, it is seldom investigated. We suggest there is a need to embrace the wider institution factors, recognise and acknowledge an organisation's values and culture as they impact on clinical learning in order to work with these, not around them or ignore them, to make what may be tacit visible through reflection and observation and to embrace a range of perspectives on culture.