Core competencies for pain management: results of an interprofessional consensus summit

Evaluating the Structural and Construct Validity of the Pain Understanding and Confidence Questionnaire for Assessing Physical Therapists' Pain Management Competence: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background The Pain Understanding and Confidence Questionnaire (PUnCQ) comprises two parts: the first assesses clinical judgments based on contemporary pain knowledge, and the second consists of items querying confidence in pain management for the presented vignette. In contrast to existing measures, PUnCQ can evaluate a therapist's capacity to make appropriate clinical decisions within a specific vignette. Thus, PUnCQ may be a promising measure to assess the clinical competence of physical therapists in pain management. This study evaluated the structural and construct validity of PUnCQ. Methodology Eligible participants were two cohorts of physical therapists managing patients with pain. PUnCQ and Knowledge and Attitudes of Pain (KNAP) data were collected using an anonymous survey. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for both parts of the PUnCQ, and an exploratory factor analysis was conducted when multidimensionality was suspected. Construct validity was assessed with the hypothesis that Pearson's r values to KNAP scores, indicating knowledge about modern pain science and biopsychosocial attitudes toward pain, were expected to be 0.3-0.5 in part one and >0.5 in part two. Results Data from 112 participants were analyzed. PUnCQ part one fully satisfied the predetermined criteria for unidimensionality, but part two did not. Exploratory factor analysis for part two revealed a two-factor structure: a 14-item Factor 1 labeled "pain management" and a seven-item Factor 2 labeled "medication guidance and pain mechanism," while Cronbach's alpha was 0.98 across all items. Statistically significant correlations were detected with the KNAP in each part of the PUnCQ (r = 0.26 in part one and r = 0.41 in part two). Conclusion PUnCQ has structural validity and an aspect of construct validity.

Identifying competencies for an advanced practice physiotherapy role within an interprofessional chronic pain clinic

BACKGROUND

Advanced practice physiotherapy (APP) models of care have shown success in access, safety, satisfaction, and care quality for musculoskeletal pain conditions in various settings. Yet, there is a gap in defining competencies for physiotherapists to be the initial point of contact for people with chronic pain. This study aims to identify and agree upon the competencies necessary for a physiotherapist to fulfill the role of an APP in an interprofessional chronic pain clinic.

METHODS

Three focus groups were conducted using a Nominal Group Technique and a modified Delphi process. Consensus on the competency, defined as agreement by ≥ 75% of participants, was sought.

RESULTS

Twenty-three experts (17 healthcare providers and six individuals with chronic pain) participated in the focus group discussions. Twenty completed the follow-up Delphi surveys. Ten essential competencies for an APP role in interprofessional chronic pain clinics were identified and achieved consensus: 1) use an evidence-based approach to practice; 2) communicate effectively with the patient; 3) perform a comprehensive assessment; 4) determine pain-related diagnoses; 5) develop therapeutic relationships; 6) provide appropriate care; 7) support patients through transitions in care; 8) collaborate with members of the interprofessional team; 9) advocate for the needs of the patients; and 10) use a reflective approach to practice.

CONCLUSION

This study identified ten competencies essential for physiotherapists to fulfill an APP role within interprofessional chronic pain clinics. These competencies serve as a foundation for informing a training program and future research evaluating the effectiveness of the APP model in this setting.

Pains Revisited

OBJECTIVES

The management of pain patients has not evolved as rapidly as envisioned when IASP was founded almost 50 years ago. We sought to identify factors that could contribute to this situation, with a focus on concepts of pain and the education of pain physicians.

METHODS

Relevant literature describing new strategies for diagnosing and managing patients with high-impact chronic pain was reviewed.

RESULTS

It appears that the acute-chronic dichotomy has outlived its usefulness and pains should be identified as of peripheral origin or due to central processing errors. Pains of peripheral origin and those of central processing errors require different diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

DISCUSSION

Peripheral treatments and opioids are not effective for central pains. When the cause of the pain lies in the central nervous system, a more centrally focused approach is needed to minimize wasteful pursuit of peripheral causes. The education and training of pain physicians should reflect the skills needed to address these 2 very different clinical problems.

Development of a nurse navigation program for cancer pain

Objective

Cancer pain significantly impacts the overall quality of life of cancer patients, necessitating proactive management. The manifestations of cancer pain vary individually and require tailored interventions to address each patient's unique characteristics. Therefore, this study aims to develop a nurse navigation program for cancer pain (NNP-CP) tailored to the needs of cancer patients requiring pain control, aiming to establish evidence-based clinical nursing practices and promote effective cancer pain management.

Methods

This study is a methodological research into developing a pain management program led by nurses for cancer patients requiring pain control, based on a professional navigation framework. The development of the program relied on three out of the five stages of the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model.

Results

A literature review was conducted to select the content and rationale to be included in the intervention program. Publications within the last 10 years in English or Korean were identified and screened based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 literature selection flow, 17 articles were included. Standardized information regarding cancer pain control was based on the 7th edition of 'Cancer Pain Management Guidelines'. The initial draft of the pain management intervention program was developed by organizing and structuring the derived content based on the professional navigation framework. Subsequently, the final intervention program was confirmed through the review by six clinical experts specializing in cancer pain.

Conclusions

Cancer pain is a significant factor that profoundly influences the quality of life and survival duration of cancer patients. While appropriate management methods offer the prospect of control, insufficient intervention is the current reality. Through the pain management intervention program based on the expert navigation framework that promotes continuity of care and empowers the recipients, this study anticipates not only pain reduction in cancer patients but also an enhancement in their quality of life.

Toward consensus on pain-related content in the pre-registration, undergraduate physical therapy curriculum: a Delphi-study

BACKGROUND

Access to pain education for healthcare professionals is an International Association for the Study of Pain's key recommendation to improve pain care. The content of preregistration and undergraduate physical therapy pain curricula, however, is highly variable.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop a list, by consensus, of essential pain-related topics for the undergraduate physical therapy curriculum.

METHODS

A modified Delphi study was conducted in four rounds, including a Delphi Panel (N = 22) consisting of in pain experienced lecturers of preregistration undergraduate physical therapy of Universities of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, and five Validation Panels. Round 1: topics were provided by the Delphi Panel, postgraduate pain educators, and a literature search. Rounds 2-4: the Delphi Panel rated the topics and commented. All topics were analyzed in terms of importance and degree of consensus. Validation Panels rated the outcome of Round 2.

RESULTS

The Delphi Panel rated 257, 146, and 90 topics in Rounds 2, 3, and 4, respectively. This resulted in 71 topics judged as "not important," 97 as "important," and 89 as "highly important." In total, 63 topics were rated as "highly important" by the Delphi Panel and Validation Panels.

CONCLUSION

A list was developed and can serve as a foundation for the development of comprehensive physical therapy pain curricula.

Pain, comorbidities, and clinical decision-making: conceptualization, development, and pilot testing of the Pain in Aging, Educational Assessment of Need instrument

Introduction

Pain is highly prevalent in older adults and often contextualized by multiple clinical conditions (pain comorbidities). Pain comorbidities increase with age and this makes clinical decisions more complex. To address gaps in clinical training and geriatric pain management, we established the Pain in Aging-Educational Assessment of Need (PAEAN) project to appraise the impacts of medical and mental health conditions on clinical decision-making regarding older adults with pain. We here report development and pilot testing of the PAEAN survey instrument to assess clinician perspectives.

Methods

Mixed-methods approaches were used. Scoping review methodology was applied to appraise both research literature and selected Medicare-based data. A geographically and professionally diverse interprofessional advisory panel of experts in pain research, medical education, and geriatrics was formed to advise development of the list of pain comorbidities potentially impacting healthcare professional clinical decision-making. A survey instrument was developed, and pilot tested by diverse licensed healthcare practitioners from 2 institutions. Respondents were asked to rate agreement regarding clinical decision-making impact using a 5-point Likert scale. Items were scored for percent agreement.

Results

Scoping reviews indicated that pain conditions and comorbidities are prevalent in older adults but not universally recognized. We found no research literature directly guiding pain educators in designing pain education modules that mirror older adult clinical complexity. The interprofessional advisory panel identified 26 common clinical conditions for inclusion in the pilot PAEAN instrument. Conditions fell into three main categories: "major medical", i.e., cardio-vascular-pulmonary; metabolic; and neuropsychiatric/age-related. The instrument was pilot tested by surveying clinically active healthcare providers, e.g., physicians, nurse practitioners, who all responded completely. Median survey completion time was less than 3 min.

Conclusion

This study, developing and pilot testing our "Pain in Aging-Educational Assessment of Need" (PAEAN) instrument, suggests that 1) many clinical conditions impact pain clinical decision-making, and 2) surveying healthcare practitioners about the impact of pain comorbidities on clinical decision-making for older adults is highly feasible. Given the challenges intrinsic to safe and effective clinical care of older adults with pain, and attendant risks, together with the paucity of existing relevant work, much more education and research are needed.

Nurses' knowledge of and attitude toward postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and the associated factors

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pain control is pivotal for surgical care; it facilitates patient recovery. Although patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has been available for decades, inadequate pain control remains. Nurses' knowledge of and attitude toward PCA may influence the efficacy on clinic application.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate nurses' knowledge of and attitude toward postoperative PCA and investigate the associated factors.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. We enrolled registered nurses from a 2200-bed medical center in northern Taiwan within one year. The participants completed an anonymous self-reported PCA knowledge inventory and PCA attitude inventory. Data were analyzed descriptively and associated were tested using logistic regression.

RESULTS

With 303 participants enrolled, we discovered that nurses had limited knowledge of and a negative attitude toward PCA. Under half of the participants know how to set up a bolus dose and lockout intervals. The majority held misconceptions regarding side effect management for opioids. The minority agree to increase the dose when a patient experienced persistent pain or suggested the use of PCA. Surprisingly, participants with a bachelor's or master's degree had lower knowledge scores than those with a junior college degree. Those with 6-10 years of work experience also are lower than those with under 5 years of experience. However, the participants with experience of using PCA for patient care had higher knowledge scores and a more positive attitude.

CONCLUSIONS

Although postoperative PCA has been available for decades and education programs are routinely provided, nurses had limited knowledge of and a negative attitude toward PCA. A higher education level and longer work experience were not associated with more knowledge. The current education programs on PCA should be revised to enhance their efficacy in delivering up-to-date knowledge and situation training which may convey supportive attitude toward clinical application of PCA.

Development of Preliminary Integrated Health Care Clinical Competencies for United States Doctor of Chiropractic Programs: A Modified Delphi Consensus Process

Background

There has been rapid growth of chiropractors pursuing career opportunities in both public and private hospitals and other integrated care settings. Chiropractors that prosper in integrated care settings deliver patient-centered care, focus on the institutional mission, understand and adhere to organizational rules, and are proficient in navigating complex systems. The Council on Chiropractic Education Accreditation Standards do not outline specific meta-competencies for integrated care clinical training.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to develop preliminary integrated health care competencies for DC programs to guide the advancement of clinical chiropractic education.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed. Articles were screened for eligibility and extracted in duplicate. Domains and seed statements were generated from this literature, piloted at a conference workshop, and evaluated via a modified Delphi consensus process. Of 42 invited, 36 chiropractors participated as panelists. Public comment period yielded 20 comments, none resulting in substantive changes to the competencies.

Results

Of 1718 citations, 23 articles met eligibility criteria. After 2 modified Delphi rounds, consensus was reached on all competency statements. A total of 78 competency statements were agreed upon, which encompassed 4 domains and 11 subdomains. The 4 domains were: 1) Collaboration, (2) Clinical Excellence, (3) Communication, and (4) Systems Administration.

Conclusion

We identified 78 preliminary competencies appropriate for preparing DC students and early career chiropractors for clinical practice in integrated healthcare settings. Educational programs may consider these competencies for curricular design and reform to strengthen DC program graduates for integrated practice, advanced training, and employment.

Patient Experiences and Clinical Outcomes in a Multidisciplinary Perioperative Transitional Pain Service

Siloed pain management across the perioperative period increases the risk of chronic opioid use and impedes postoperative recovery. Transitional perioperative pain services (TPSs) are innovative care models that coordinate multidisciplinary perioperative pain management to mitigate risks of chronic postoperative pain and opioid use. The objective of this study was to examine patients' experiences with and quality of recovery after participation in a TPS. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 patients from The Johns Hopkins Personalized Pain Program (PPP) an average of 33 months after their first PPP visit. A qualitative content analysis of the interview data showed that participants (1) valued pain expectation setting, individualized care, a trusting patient-physician relationship, and shared decision-making; (2) perceived psychiatric treatment of co-occurring depression, anxiety, and maladaptive behaviors as critical to recovery; and (3) successfully sustained opioid tapers and experienced improved functioning after PPP discharge. Areas for improved patient-centered care included increased patient education, specifically about the program, continuity of care with pain specialists while tapering opioids, and addressing the health determinants that impede access to pain care. The positive patient experiences and sustained clinical benefits for high-risk complex surgical patient support further efforts to implement and adapt similar models of perioperative pain care.

"Maybe I would've been more comfortable in my Ignorance?": Exploring future physical therapist's lived experience of an elective pain science course

INTRODUCTION

Through the Master of Physical Therapy program at a Canadian University, Understanding Pain in Rehabilitation (PT9551b) has been an elective option for physical therapy students with the final submission based on a reflective diary. The primary intention of the course is to introduce a critical social science perspective of pain and pain management. A secondary intention is to facilitate student reflection on how they see themselves as 'providers of pain management' or 'providers of physical therapy for people in pain' although at this point, the students' experiences of learning in this way has not been rigorously explored. There has yet to be a systemic examination of how physical therapy students experience learning about pain through such a course, and how the course has impacted their perspectives.

METHOD

This study followed an interpretive phenomenological research design. Single semi-structured in-depth 45-90-minute interviews of recent students were audio recorded and transcribed. In addition, the reflective diaries of students were included in the data set with students' permission. The analysis process followed a detailed reading approach to analysis by reading transcriptions line by line and engaging in critical reflection.

FINDINGS

Six major themes were identified including: 1) Therapeutic Power of Words; 2) Learning through Reflection; 3) Lived Experience with Pain; 4) Patient Partnership; 5) Conceptualizations of Pain; and 6) Pain and Physiotherapy Practice.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended that researchers and educators encourage a continuation of reflective practice to conceptualize new information and as a means for participants to reflect on their personal and professional experiences.

The needs, barriers, and opportunities perceived by health professionals for an online competency-based interprofessional course to enhance the care of older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain

BACKGROUND

It is recommended that continued education in pain should be supported using information and communication technologies (ICTs), but there are gaps about the previous competencies of health professionals, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study characterized the competencies of professionals in the Colombian Caribbean, the circumstances that favor and hinder the development of appropriate care, as well as the preferences, expectations and attitudes toward an educational intervention supported by ICTs.

METHODS

We used a qualitative, phenomenological approach, combining documentary review and data obtained through observation, an online survey and two focus groups involving 55 healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses and psychologists) of varying experience. For the analysis and integration of results, the Capacity, Opportunity, Motivation and Behavior model and the Theoretical Domains Framework were used as references. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist guided the reporting of this study.

RESULTS

Competency deficits were found regardless of the profession and experience, which are related to inadequacies in undergraduate and post-graduate training. Structural problems in Colombian society and healthcare service organization were also discovered, which were considered unmodifiable barriers and have been aggravated by the social, economic and health effects of the pandemic. The main modifiable barriers found were as follows: pain underestimation and under-treatment of older adults, as well as stereotypes regarding old age and pain, lack of knowledge of the psychosocial determinants of pain and of techniques for its assessment and treatment, overestimation of pharmacological treatment and failure to update pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

Recommendations for the design of the educational intervention were established as follows: favoring non-synchronous resources, facilitating synchronous activities of short duration, facilitating permanent access to information and resources and generating incentives for continuing education, such as certification, institutional recognition and encouraging popular recognition.

US medical school curriculum on opioid use disorder-a topic review of current curricular research and evaluation of winning student-designed opioid curricula for the 2021 Coalition on Physician Education in Substance Use Disorders curricular competition

The opioid crisis in the US severely affected and continues to affect population's health. The opioid crisis was in part fueled by inadequate pain management, which is in part due to the inadequate education in both pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) for health care professionals. In 2021, the Coalition on Physician Education in Substance Use Disorders (COPE) organized a curricular competition soliciting US medical students-designed OUD-related curricula. Twelve winning curricula were identified. Here, we first conducted a topic review regarding current US medical school OUD curricula. Then we evaluated the COPE winning curricula and compared them to the curricula identified in the topic review. For the topic review, ten relevant databases were searched up to December 31, 2021 using a combination of pre-determined keywords. Total of 25 peer-reviewed articles were selected based on the pre-determined criteria, which included 5 articles describing opioid curricular development at the state level (AZ, CA, MA, PA, and RI), 17 research articles evaluating a curriculum developed in a single institution, 2 literature reviews, and 1 article detailing curricular development and validation processes in a single institution. Although vary in organizations and formats, state-level curricula were comprehensive and could be adopted by other states or institutions with necessary local issue-based modifications. Faculty development and critical resources were major challenges for curricular implementation. The 17 research articles exhibited good scientific quality (Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) score = 11.94 ± 2.33 (maximal score = 18)). All research articles reported to some extent, the success of respective curriculum, in improving students' knowledge in and/or attitude towards OUD, based on primarily pre- and post- comparisons. Compared to these published curricula, winning students-designed curricula had more specific focuses, diverse learning activities, and varieties in assessment methods. For all curricula, long-term evaluations were lacking. Except for the state level curricula, majority of the other curricula did not emphasize specifically on chronic pain education or the biopsychosocial approach. Interprofessional education approach was also lacking. Our topic review and curricular evaluation highlighted the needs for integrating OUD and chronic pain medical curricula, developing long-term assessment tools, and more OUD curriculum research overall.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the pain understanding and confidence questionnaire into Japanese

[Purpose] This study aimed to develop a culturally adapted Japanese version of the Pain Understanding and Confidence Questionnaire (PUnCQ). The first-factor structure describes management from 12 perspectives for a case vignette of chronic pain and determines whether the management is based on a biomedical or biopsychosocial perspective. The second-factor structure evaluates the confidence level in management skills for the same case from 21 perspectives. [Participants and Methods] We conducted a cross-cultural adaptation based on five stages according to Beaton's guidelines (two forward translations, creation of an integrated forward translation version, two backward translations, creation of a provisional Japanese version, and a pilot test). In the pilot test, we asked 40 Japanese physical therapists to rate their understanding of the PUnCQ descriptions on a five-point Likert scale (1, not at all understandable; 5, completely understandable) and provide comments when they rated 1 to 3. We repeated revisions and pilot tests until less than 10% of the respondents rated 1 for all descriptions. [Results] By conducting two rounds of the pilot test, all items of descriptions satisfied the preestablished criteria. [Conclusion] A Japanese version of the PUnCQ was developed.

Veterinary education and experience shape beliefs about dog breeds Part 1: Pain sensitivity

Over 95% of veterinarians report believing that dog breeds differ in pain sensitivity. Ratings made by veterinarians differ from those of the general public, suggesting these beliefs may be learned during veterinary training or clinical experiences. Therefore, the current study's primary objective was to evaluate dog breed pain sensitivity ratings during veterinary training and compare these ratings to those of the general public and undergraduates in animal-health related fields. Using an online survey, members of the general public, undergraduates, veterinary students across all four years, and veterinary faculty and staff rated pain sensitivity of 10 different dog breeds, identified only by their pictures. Compared to the general public and undergraduates, veterinary students rated pain sensitivity across breeds of dog more similarly to veterinary faculty and staff. Further, when undergraduates had clinical experience, they also rated certain dog breeds in a similar way to the veterinary students and professionals. Our findings suggest that veterinary education and clinical experiences influence pain sensitivity ratings across dog breeds. Future research should identify how these pain sensitivity beliefs are communicated and whether these beliefs affect recognition and treatment of pain by veterinarians.

Evolving Project ECHO: delivery of pediatric pain core competency learning for interprofessional healthcare providers

Introduction

Healthcare providers (HCPs) practicing in community settings are critical to improving access to pain care, yet there are significant gaps in training opportunities designed for interprofessional learners. Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (Project ECHO®) is an established model for delivering online HCP education through virtual clinics and cultivating a community of practice. However, to our knowledge, the integration of pain core competency education into the ECHO® model has not been previously attempted. This innovation could enhance the ECHO® model while also addressing the growing calls for more accessible interprofessional pain curricula. This paper describes efforts to implement and evaluate core competency curricula within the context of Pediatric Project ECHO for Pain, one of the first pediatric-pain focused ECHO programs in the world.

Methods

Needs assessments informed curricula development. The first delivered core competency model consisted of synchronous webinar-style sessions while the second model included a mixture of asynchronous (eLearning course) and synchronous (virtual clinical debrief) elements. A convenience sample of HCPs was recruited from ECHO program registrants. Participants completed baseline and follow-up surveys to assess core competency acceptability as well as impact on knowledge and self-efficacy related to managing pediatric pain. Usability of the eLearning platform (model 2 only) was also evaluated. Surveys used 5-point Likert scales to capture outcomes. A priori targets included mean scores ≥4/5 for acceptability and ≥80% of learners reporting knowledge and self-efficacy improvements. The study received local research ethics approval.

Results

The core competency was found to be highly acceptable to interprofessional learners (n = 31) across delivery models, surpassing a priori targets. Specifically, it was characterized as a worthwhile and satisfactory experience that was helpful in supporting learning. The core competency was also associated with improvements in knowledge and self-efficacy by 97% and 90% of learners, respectively. The eLearning platform was reported to have high usability with clinically realistic cases (100% of respondents) that were helpful to inform care delivery (94% of respondents).

Conclusion

The integration of core competency learning within the Project ECHO® model was a successful approach to deliver pediatric pain education to interprofessional HCPs.

Improvement in medical students' knowledge on chronic pain assessment through integrative learning approaches: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction

This study aimed to compare the knowledge and skills of medical students in chronic pain assessment after being trained using the PQRST (P, provoke and palliate; Q, quality; R, region and radiation; S, severity; T, time) and ACT-UP (A, activity; C, coping; T, think; U, upset; P, people) mnemonics with those using only the PQRST mnemonic.

Methods

A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, including forty students who participated in a simulation-based chronic pain assessment workshop. Pre- and post-test scores were used to assess participants' knowledge. Two independent raters assessed the students' skills.

Results

No significant differences in knowledge or skills were observed between the groups; however, a significant improvement in the post-test scores (85.71 [71.43-95.24]) compared to the pre-test scores (61.90 [25.87-90.48]) was observed. The students reported high satisfaction with the workshop.

Conclusions

Training with the PQRST and ACT-UP mnemonics is not better than training with the PQRST mnemonic alone in improving students' knowledge and skills in chronic pain assessment. Nevertheless, this pain education workshop was beneficial for student learning. Learning of patient-oriented chronic pain assessment should be provided in a repetitive and integrative fashion using different approaches, such as lectures, demonstrations, simulations, and interactions with patients experiencing chronic pain. To conclude, mnemonics are helpful but not a primary learning tool.

Answering Big Questions in Pain Medicine

The future of pain medicine is marked by many questions. What can other nations around the world learn from the opioid crisis that is still affecting the United States? The American opioid experience was mischaracterized and wrongly described, and its causes were misdiagnosed from the outset, leading to its mismanagement and the abandonment of many chronic pain patients to their suffering. There are a few new drugs in the analgesic armamentarium. What new targets do we have in pain medicine? There are many breakthroughs, discoveries, and potential new targets that could add to our analgesic prescribing choices. These include sigma receptors, d-amino acid oxidase, endoplasmic reticulum stress receptors, histone deacetylase, and others. Neuromodulation had been used with varying degrees of success for years, but with a simplistic approach based on the gate theory of pain. Despite our familiarity with neuromodulation and spinal cord stimulators, neuromodulation research indicates that the activation of glial cells may activate the immune system and enhance analgesia. Neuromodulation studies have concentrated on how electricity affects neuronal activity rather than how electrical activity could reduce pain. There are still more frontiers in our battle against pain and some promising avenues for treatments. This narrative review will try to summarize what can be done from the perspective of recent technological and pharmacological developments.

Two Puzzles, a Tour Guide, and a Teacher: The First Cohorts' Lived Experience of Participating in the MClSc Interprofessional Pain Management Program

(1) Background: The Master of Clinical Science program (MClSc) in Advanced Healthcare Practice at (University) introduced a new "Interprofessional Pain Management" (IPM) field in September 2019. The purpose of this study is to inquire into the following research question: What are MClSc Interprofessional Pain Management students' lived experiences of participating in pain management education? (2) This study followed an interpretivist research design. The text that was considered central to descriptions of the lived experience of participating in the IPM program was highlighted and organized into a spreadsheet and then sorted into themes. (3) Results: Five themes in regard to the lived experiences of participating in the first cohort of the MClSc IPM program were identified: Reflection on Stagnation in Professional Disciplines; Meaning Making Through Dialogue with Like-Minded Learners; Challenging Ideas and Critical Thinking at Play; Interprofessionalism as Part of Ideal Practice; and Becoming a Competent Person-Centred Partner in Pain Care. (4) Conclusions: This program offers a unique approach to learning while creating an online platform to work, collaborate, and challenge like-minded experts in the field of pain. In doing this research, we hope that more practitioners will work towards the goal of becoming competent, person-centered pain care providers.

Pain Management Knowledge and Attitudes for Surgical Nursing Students

BACKGROUND

Pain is considered as one of the most common factors that cause people to seek medical care. An important responsibility of health professionals is to manage pain, and nurses play a crucial role in it. Therefore, nursing students must have pain management knowledge and skills to fulfill this role.

AIM

The objective of the study was to examine pain management knowledge and attitudes of nursing students who had taken a surgical nursing course.

METHODS

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with volunteer second-year undergraduate nursing students (n = 260) from two universities in Turkey. The Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain and a student demographic information form were used for data collection. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t test and variance analysis.

RESULTS

The mean score on the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain was 6.78 ± 2.23. Of all the students, 48.8% reported that they only preferred pharmacologic treatments for pain management. The mean score on the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain significantly differed in terms of the type of high school (p = .044) and the unit for clinical education (p = .025).

CONCLUSIONS

The students had a moderate mean score on the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain. The students who graduated from high school and those who received their clinical education in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery units had significantly higher mean scores on pain management knowledge and attitudes.

The effectiveness of clinical guideline implementation strategies in oncology-a systematic review

IMPORTANCE

Guideline recommendations do not necessarily translate into changes in clinical practice behaviour or better patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aims to identify recent clinical guideline implementation strategies in oncology and to determine their effect primarily on patient-relevant outcomes and secondarily on healthcare professionals' adherence.

METHODS

A systematic search of five electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, GIN, CENTRAL, CINAHL) was conducted on 16 december 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies of interventions (NRSIs) assessing the effectiveness of guideline implementation strategies on patient-relevant outcomes (overall survival, quality of life, adverse events) and healthcare professionals' adherence outcomes (screening, referral, prescribing, attitudes, knowledge) in the oncological setting were targeted. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the ROBINS-I tool were used for assessing the risk of bias. Certainty in the evidence was evaluated according to GRADE recommendations. This review was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with the identification number CRD42021268593.

FINDINGS

Of 1326 records identified, nine studies, five cluster RCTs and four controlled before-and after studies, were included in the narrative synthesis. All nine studies assess the effect of multi-component interventions in 3577 cancer patients and more than 450 oncologists, nurses and medical staff.

PATIENT-LEVEL

Educational meetings combined with materials, opinion leaders, audit and feedback, a tailored intervention or academic detailing may have little to no effect on overall survival, quality of life and adverse events of cancer patients compared to no intervention, however, the evidence is either uncertain or very uncertain.

PROVIDER-LEVEL

Multi-component interventions may increase or slightly increase guideline adherence regarding screening, referral and prescribing behaviour of healthcare professionals according to guidelines, but the certainty in evidence is low. The interventions may have little to no effect on attitudes and knowledge of healthcare professionals, still, the evidence is very uncertain.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Knowledge and skill accumulation through team-oriented or online educational training and dissemination of materials embedded in multi-component interventions seem to be the most frequently researched guideline implementation strategies in oncology recently. This systematic review provides an overview of recent guideline implementation strategies in oncology, encourages future implementation research in this area and informs policymakers and professional organisations on the development and adoption of implementation strategies.

The Treatment of Pediatric Pain in Spain: A Survey Study

Pain is a common experience among children and adolescents, and pain management in this population is a challenge to clinicians. The aims of this study were to increase our understanding of current practices in the management of both acute and chronic pediatric pain in Spain, explore potential barriers to ideal practices, and identify professional needs as perceived by healthcare professionals. A total of 277 healthcare professionals took part, all of whom had wide experience in managing children and adolescents with pain (M [SD] age = 44.85, [10.73]; 75% women). Participants had to respond to a web-based survey with 50 questions related to pain education, organizational characteristics of their pain programs (including the characteristics of the patients treated), and current practices in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with pain. Almost all the participants (93%) acknowledged important gaps in their training, and only 47% reported that they had received specific education on the management of pediatric pain during their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. A third (31%) were members of multidisciplinary teams, and almost all (99%) understood that protocols to guide the management of pain in young people were necessary. However, only a few of them used a protocol to assess and treat (56% and 48%, respectively) acute and chronic pain (24% and 23%, respectively). The data also showed that a lack of pain education, coordination of professionals, and guidelines was perceived as an important barrier in the care provided to children and adolescents with pain in Spain. The findings of this study can now be used by healthcare professionals in Spain interested in managing pediatric pain, as well as policymakers concerned to improve the education of professionals and the care given to young people with pain.

Continuing professional development needs in pain management for Canadian health care professionals: A cross sectional survey

Background

Continuing professional development is an important means of improving access to effective patient care. Although pain content has increased significantly in prelicensure programs, little is known about how postlicensure health professionals advance or maintain competence in pain management.

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate Canadian health professionals' continuing professional development needs, activities, and preferred modalities for pain management.

Methods

This study employed a cross-sectional self-report web survey.

Results

The survey response rate was 57% (230/400). Respondents were primarily nurses (48%), university educated (95%), employed in academic hospital settings (62%), and had ≥11 years postlicensure experience (70%). Most patients (>50%) cared for in an average week presented with pain. Compared to those working in nonacademic settings, clinicians in academic settings reported significantly higher acute pain assessment competence (mean 7.8/10 versus 6.9/10; P < 0.002) and greater access to pain specialist consultants (73% versus 29%; P < 0.0001). Chronic pain assessment competence was not different between groups. Top learning needs included neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, and chronic pain. Recently completed and preferred learning modalities respectively were informal and work-based: reading journal articles (56%, 54%), online independent learning (44%, 53%), and attending hospital rounds (43%, 42%); 17% had not completed any pain learning activities in the past 12 months. Respondents employed in nonacademic settings and nonphysicians were more likely to use pocket cards, mobile apps, and e-mail summaries to improve pain management.

Conclusions

Canadian postlicensure health professionals require greater access to and participation in interactive and multimodal methods of continuing professional development to facilitate competency in evidence-based pain management.

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.

A qualitative study to explore the acceptability and feasibility of implementing person-focused evidence-based pain education concepts in pre-registration physiotherapy training

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to engage with physiotherapy clinicians, academics, physiotherapy students and patients to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and practical considerations of implementing person-focused evidence-based pain education concepts, identified from our previous research, in pre-registration physiotherapy training.

Design

This qualitative study took a person-focused approach to ground pain education in the perspectives and experiences of people who deliver and use it. Data was collected via focus groups and in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using the seven stage Framework approach.

Setting

Focus groups and interviews were conducted either face to face, via video conferencing or via telephone. This depended on geographical location, participant preference, and towards the end of data collection the limitations on in-person contact due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Participants

UK based physiotherapy clinicians, physiotherapy students, academics and patients living with pain were purposively sampled and invited to take part.

Results

Five focus groups and six semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-nine participants. Four key dimensions evolved from the dataset that encapsulate concepts underpinning the acceptability and feasibility of implementing pain education in pre-registration physiotherapy training. These are (1) make pain education authentic to reflect diverse, real patient scenarios, (2) demonstrate the value that pain education adds, (3) be creative by engaging students with content that requires active participation, (4) openly discuss the challenges and embrace scope of practice.

Conclusions

These key dimensions shift the focus of pain education towards practically engaging content that reflects people experiencing pain from diverse sociocultural backgrounds. This study highlights the need for creativity in curriculum design and the importance of preparing graduates for the challenges that they will face in clinical practice.

Interprofessional Active Learning for Chronic Pain: Transforming Student Learning From Recall to Application

Chronic pain (CP) affects over 50 million Americans daily and represents a unique challenge for healthcare professionals due to its complexity. Across all health professions, only a small percentage of the curriculum is devoted to treating patients with CP. Unfortunately, much of the content is delivered passively via lecture without giving students an opportunity to practice the communication skills to effectively treat patients in the clinic. An interprofessional team of health educators identified 5 essential messages that students frequently struggle to convey to patients with CP. Those messages were based on interprofessional and profession-specific competencies to treat patients with CP from the International Association for the Study of Pain. The 5 messages highlighted the importance of (1) therapeutic alliance, (2) consistent interdisciplinary language, (3) patient prognosis, (4) evidence for pain medicine, surgery, and imaging, and (5) early referral to the interprofessional team. For each message, the team summarized relevant research supporting the importance of each individual message that could serve as a foundation for didactic content. The team then developed active learning educational activities that educators could use to have students practice the skills tied to each message. Each learning activity was designed to be delivered in an interprofessional manner.

Predictors of Nurse Practitioner Prescription of Opioids for Cancer Pain: Quantitative Results

Background

Nurse practitioners (NPs) have assumed a greater role in the management of pain related to cancer. Several studies have associated adequate management of cancer pain with improved survival. Opioids are an essential treatment for cancer pain management and thus it is important to understand influences on prescribing these substances. However, due to a lack of previous studies on this topic, little is known about the influences on NP prescription of opioids for patients with pain due to cancer.

Purpose

Competent decision-making is highly correlated with dominant personality characteristics and dominant decision-making styles in everyday life. The rational approach to decision-making has demonstrated superior performance with different daily tasks, including career-related tasks. However, it is unknown whether dominant personality and/or decision-making style impacts the decisions of medical professionals. Using the Diffusion of Innovations theoretical framework, this study evaluated whether dominant personality, dominant decision style, advanced specialty certification, and/or demographic factors influenced oncology NP opioid prescribing proficiency (termed opioid decision score, or ODS) according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines. Other advanced practice providers (APPs) were excluded from the study due to controlled substance prescribing limitations.

Methods

An internet-based descriptive comparative study was performed evaluating the dominant personality characteristic and dominant decision-making style as a predictor of opioid prescribing among NPs working in oncology. Participants were recruited using lists from the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). A nationwide convenience sample of NPs working with adult oncology patients was evaluated for opioid prescribing according to recommendations in the NCCN Cancer Pain Guidelines.

Results

Univariate linear regression revealed a statistically significant increase in the ODS as the Big Five Inventory (BFI) Openness scale score increased (estimate = 0.36, standard error [SE] = 0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.03-0.69). Nurse practitioners reporting advanced specialty certification in oncology and/or hospice or palliative care scored significantly higher on the ODS compared with those with no advanced specialty certification (n = 81, M = 2.86, 2.34, t = -2.75, df = 178, p = .0065).

Conclusion

This study provides preliminary findings regarding the decision-making of NPs working with oncology patients and prescribing opioids for cancer pain. Nurse practitioners with a dominant personality characteristic of openness and those reporting an advanced specialty certification in oncology and/or hospice or palliative care were more likely to prescribe opioids for patients with cancer according to NCCN Guidelines. Further investigation is needed to determine additional factors impacting prescribing of controlled sub-stance by NPs and other prescribers.

Core components of an effective pain management education programme for surgical nurses: A Delphi study*

The critical reason for this study is the inadequate training received by surgical nurses in acute and chronic pain management nursing services for patients.

Educating and engaging a new target audience about the problem of pain for society

Background: Pain education initiatives are typically targeted at health professionals, with less attention being placed on the education of other target audiences. Recent curriculum changes across undergraduate liberal studies degree programs at The University of Sydney presented an opportunity to develop an online course entitled Health Challenges: Pain and Society, which was aimed at a non-traditional target audience. To promote student engagement about the problem of pain for society, the course was designed using the Community of Inquiry framework. Research Design: This paper reports on an Educational Design Research study, investigating the effectiveness of the course in engaging students across two cohorts, in 2019 and 2020. Data Collection: Learning analytics were collected from the Learning Management System each year. The level of student engagement in non-assessable tasks was measured using multiple linear regression. Students' degree type and majors were recorded. In 2020, the quality of student workbook responses was recorded. Results: In both cohorts, engagement with the workbooks was a predictor of academic achievement. In 2020, a significant interaction effect between quantity and quality of engagement was observed. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of designing online learning to facilitate successful engagement for non-traditional target audiences about the issue of chronic pain for society.

Exercise physiologists use of pain neuroscience education for treating knee osteoarthritis: A qualitative interview study

OBJECTIVES

To explore how Australian exercise physiologists (EPs) utilise pain neuroscience education (PNE) in their management of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS

A semi-structured interview concerning a knee osteoarthritis vignette was designed to understand each participant's beliefs about physical activity, pain, injury and coping strategies and quantify their use of pain neuroscience concepts. Themes were derived from pre-determined pain target concepts as well as others that emerged from thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty EPs (57% male, mean clinical experience 7 years (SD 7.1) participated in the semi-structured interviews. 13 themes emerged. EPs primarily focussed on: (1) active treatment strategies are better than passive, (2) pain and tissue damage rarely relate, and (3) learning about pain can help individuals and society. Other themes included the use of biomedical-based education, pain during exercise and delivery of PNE. Underutilised themes included the role of the brain in pain, validation that pain is real and personal, the concept of danger sensors as opposed to pain sensors, and pain depends on the balance between safety and danger.

CONCLUSION

EPs primarily advised on active treatment approaches (e.g. exercise and self-management). Quality of care is likely to improve through increasing focus on the systemic benefits of exercise in overcoming psychological barriers (e.g. fear avoidance and pain catastrophising) that may prevent exercise treatment engagement. Broadening PNE to reconceptualise knee osteoarthritis pain as a sign of an overprotective nervous system, rather than structural damage, may facilitate greater patient engagement in exercise therapies, thus improving patient outcomes.

"Listen to me, learn from me": a priority setting partnership for shaping interdisciplinary pain training to strengthen chronic pain care

ABSTRACT

What are the care-seeking priorities of people living with chronic pain and carers and how can these shape interdisciplinary workforce training to improve high-value pain care? Phase 1: Australian people living with chronic pain (n = 206; 90% female) and carers (n = 10; 40% female) described their pain care priorities (eDelphi, round 1). A coding framework was inductively derived from 842 pain care priorities (9 categories, 52 priorities), including validation; communication; multidisciplinary approaches; holistic care; partnerships; practitioner knowledge; self-management; medicines; and diagnosis. Phase 2: In eDelphi round 2, panellists (n = 170; valid responses) rated the importance (1 = less important; 9 = more important) of the represented framework. In parallel, cross-discipline health professionals (n = 267; 75% female) rated the importance of these same priorities. Applying the RAND-UCLA method (panel medians: 1-3: "not important," 4-6: "equivocal," or 7-9: "important"), "important" items were retained where the panel median score was >7 with panel agreement ≥70%, with 44 items (84.6%) retained. Specific workforce training targets included the following: empathic validation; effective, respectful, safe communication; and ensuring genuine partnerships in coplanning personalised care. Panellists and health professionals agreed or strongly agreed (95.7% and 95.2%, respectively) that this framework meaningfully reflected the importance in care seeking for pain. More than 74% of health professionals were fairly or extremely confident in their ability to support care priorities for 6 of 9 categories (66.7%). Phase 3: An interdisciplinary panel (n = 5) mapped an existing foundation-level workforce training program against the framework, identifying gaps and training targets. Recommendations were determined for framework adoption to genuinely shape, from a partnership perspective, Australian interdisciplinary pain training.

Pain hygiene: A content analysis of student nurses' perspectives

Pain hygiene (PH) is a new concept that has not been well-defined. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to understand this newly developed concept. Based on the responses from 78 students, the perceptions of the meaning of the term "pain hygiene" and differences between the term "pain hygiene" and "sleep hygiene" through their participation in open-ended surveys was described. Using content analysis, four themes emerged to present students' meaning of the term "pain hygiene": prevention of worsening of pain; cleanliness or hygiene practices to manage pain; self-care to manage pain; and physical and psychological management of pain. Two themes emerged illustrating differences between PH and sleep hygiene: practices that contribute to a better quality of life and condition, and better sleep with no pain. As a newly developing concept, PH can be used to make changes in pain assessment, prevention, and pain management strategies for all people with pain, which can enrich their quality of life and bring change in pain care outcomes.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale

BACKGROUND

There is lack of instruments for assessing nurses' comprehensive pain management competency.

AIM

This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale and to conduct a cursory survey of the pain management educational needs/resources of nurses caring for patients with cancer pain.

METHOD

A convenience sample of 230 Korean nurses who met the eligibility criteria completed the researcher developed the Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale and a pain management educational needs/resources survey. The Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale was based on the pain management core competencies identified by Fishman et al (2013). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation.

RESULTS

Cronbach's alpha of the scale was 0.89. Nurse cancer pain management competency includes four factors, which accounted for 68.44% of the variance: the context of pain management, pain assessment and measurement, management of pain, and multidimensional nature of pain. Approximately 42% of nurses had no available protocols related to cancer pain management. Nurses preferred multi-component educational modalities, including simulation-based learning.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings support internal consistency reliability and content and construct validity of the Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale that can help examine pain management competency of nurses. Adopting an evidence-based clinical cancer pain management-related protocol and multi-component training programs are needed to achieve optimal cancer pain management competency in nurses.

Ten-year mixed-method evaluation of prelicensure health professional student self-reported learning in an interfaculty pain curriculum

Introduction:

Student perspectives on interprofessional pain education are lacking.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate ratings of knowledge acquisition and effective presentation methods for prelicensure health professional students attending the University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain Interfaculty Pain Curriculum (Canada).

Methods:

A 10-year (2009–2019) retrospective longitudinal mixed-methods approach comprising analysis and integration of quantitative and qualitative data sets was used to evaluate 5 core University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain Interfaculty Pain Curriculum learning sessions.

Results:

A total of 10, 693 students were enrolled (2009–2019) with a mean annual attendance of 972 students (±SD:102). The mean proportion of students rating “agree/strongly agree” for knowledge acquisition and effective presentation methods across sessions was 79.3% (±SD:3.4) and 76.7% (±SD:6.0), respectively. Knowledge acquisition or presentation effectiveness scores increased, respectively, over time for 4 core sessions: online self-study pain mechanisms module (P = 0.03/P < 0.001), online self-study opioids module (P = 0.04/P = 0.019), individually selected in-person topical pain sessions (P = 0.03/P < 0.001), and in-person patient or interprofessional panel session (P = 0.03). Qualitative data corroborated rating scores and expanded insight into student expectations for knowledge acquisition to inform real-world clinical practice and interprofessional collaboration; presentation effectiveness corresponded with smaller session size, individually selected sessions, case-based scenarios, embedded knowledge appraisal, and opportunities to meaningfully interact with presenters and peers.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated positive and increasing prelicensure student ratings of knowledge acquisition and effective presentation methods across multifaceted learning sessions in an interfaculty pain curriculum. This study has implications for pain curriculum design aimed at promoting students' collaborative, patient-centered working skills.

See commentary: Trouvin A-P. “Ten-year mixed method evaluation of prelicensure health professional student self-reported learning in an interfaculty pain curriculum”: a view on pain education. PAIN Rep 2022;7:e1031.

Students attending learning sessions at the University of Toronto Interfaculty Pain Curriculum (2009–2019) in Toronto, Canada, self-report high ratings of knowledge acquisition and effective presentation methods.

[Physical therapy knowledge, skills, and competencies in the care of people with chronic pain]

BACKGROUND

Between 8 and 16 million people in Germany are affected by chronic pain, causing costs of up to 28.7 billion euros annually. Chronic pain is complex and has biopsychosocial aspects. Physiotherapeutic care requires special knowledge, skills and competencies. A publicly accessible description of these requirements does not currently exist in Germany.

AIM

The aim of the work was to establish a consensus among experts working in Germany regarding the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies of physiotherapists in the care of people with chronic pain.

METHODS

Two-stage Delphi procedure with 15 experts. In the first round of questions, knowledge, skills and competencies that had previously been identified in a systematic literature review were assessed and supplemented. In the second round of questions, the experts evaluated the additions made in the first round of questions with regard to their relevance.

RESULTS

Of 219 evaluated statements, 124 were classified as absolutely relevant. In addition to anatomical and physiological pain knowledge, mainly educational and communication skills were rated as important.

CONCLUSION

This overview may provide a basis for the development of a competency profile that can be used to develop contents for the modular design and standardisation of curricula in courses of study or training.

Educational considerations for health professionals to effectively work with clients with complex regional pain syndrome

Introduction

People living with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a rare chronic pain disorder, must become experts in their own self-management. Listening to the voice of the patient is often advocated in the pain literature. However, the patient’s option is rarely asked for or considered by clinicians, even when they live with a condition that health professionals have rarely heard of.

Purpose

To explore what people living with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) think health professionals should know about their condition to provide appropriate care.

Design

A heuristic, hermeneutic phenomenological study was conducted asking people about their experiences living with CRPS. This paper reports on the findings of an additional question asked of all participants.

Participants

Seventeen people living with complex regional pain syndrome were interviewed.

Findings

Overwhelmingly, participants felt that health professionals do not know enough about CRPS, or chronic pain and believe their health outcomes are affected by this lack of knowledge. Sub-themes identified were don’t touch unless I say it is okay; be patient with the patient/ it is important to develop a relationship; educate yourself and educate the patient; choose your words carefully and refer to others as needed. An additional theme, it is very hard to describe CRPS was also identified.

Conclusions

Including patients as a member of the healthcare team is recommended to help people take control and self-manage their pain. For true patient centered care to be achieved, health professionals must accept and respect patients’ descriptions of pain and their pain experience. This may require additional health professional education at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels in pain and communication to increase their bedside manner and therapeutic communication to deliver care in partnership with the patient.

The development of a stakeholder-endorsed national strategic plan for advancing pain education across Canadian physiotherapy programs

Background

The Canadian Pain Task Force recently advanced an action plan calling for improved entry-level health professional pain education. However, there is little research to inform the collaboration and coordination across stakeholders that is needed for its implementation.

Aims

This article reports on the development of a stakeholder-generated strategic plan to improve pain education across all Canadian physiotherapy (PT) programs.

Methods

Participants included representatives from the following stakeholder groups: people living with pain (n = 1), PT students and recent graduates (n = 2), educators and directors from every Canadian PT program (n = 24), and leaders of Canada's national PT professional association (n = 2). Strategic priorities were developed through three steps: (1) stakeholder-generated data were collected and analyzed, (2) a draft strategic plan was developed and refined, and (3) stakeholder endorsement of the final plan was assessed. The project was primarily implemented online between 2016 and 2018.

Results

The plan was developed through five iterative versions. Stakeholders unanimously endorsed a plan that included five priorities focusing on uptake of best evidence across (1) national PT governance groups and (2) within individual PT programs; (3) partnering with people living with pain in pain education; (4) advocacy for the PT role in pain management; and (5) advancing pain education research.

Conclusion

This plan is expected to help Canadian stakeholders work toward national improvements in PT pain education and to serve as a useful template for informing collaboration on entry-level pain education within other professions and across different geographic regions.

Effectiveness and Dissemination of the Interprofessional Pediatric Pain PRN Curriculum

INTRODUCTION

Cultural transformation is needed for health care to be sensitive to children's pain. The Pediatric Pain Practice Registered Nurses (PRN) Curriculum is the first free, open access, downloadable, interprofessional pain continuing education (IPPCE) curriculum developed to empower health care professionals to translate evidence-based pain care into clinical practice. To evaluate the curriculum and its experiential flipped-learning strategies, we used a mixed methods approach.

METHODS

Interprofessional pediatric teams from eight health care systems evaluated the curriculum after attending Pediatric Pain PRN Courses in the Fall of 2017 (N = 90). Qualitative methods were used to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of the curriculum and IPPCE strategies. Pain knowledge and attitudes were measured pre-IPPCE/post-IPPCE with the Pediatric Healthcare Provider's Knowledge & Attitude Survey Regarding Pain (PHPKAS). Web analytics were used to describe dissemination for the first year after the curriculum's webpage launch.

RESULTS

Learners rated their achievement of course objectives as moderate-great. PHPKAS scores significantly increased (P < .0005); but significant differences in physician and nurse PHPKAS question responses pre-IPPCE/post-IPPCE were found. Within 2 years of the IPPCE, three health care systems were certified as Childkind Hospitals, five Pediatric Pain PRN Programs were established, and various practice changes and improved patient outcomes, such as decreased hospital lengths of stay and emergency department returns for pain, were realized. Curriculum dissemination was global.

DISCUSSION

Results support the acceptability, effectiveness, feasibility, utility, and global dissemination of the curriculum and IPPCE strategies. More rigorous patient outcome data are needed; however, this study demonstrated the benefit of a free, open-access, downloadable, interprofessional health care provider continuing education curriculum.

The Critical Role of Nutrition Care to Improve Pain Management: A Global Call to Action for Physical Therapist Practice

Physical therapists have unique education in the comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and treatment of chronic pain and its mechanisms. Recently, physical therapists have raised awareness regarding the impact of nutrition on promoting health and managing noncommunicable diseases. Robust evidence supports the implementation of nutrition in physical therapist education and practice. Of particular interest for the physical therapist are investigations that use dietary interventions for the treatment of chronic pain. Yet physical therapists have received little guidance regarding their role in nutrition care for pain management and may pass on opportunities to counsel their patients on the connection between nutrition and pain. Therefore, a clinical paradigm shift and unified voice within the profession is called on to encourage physical therapists to develop tailored multimodal lifestyle interventions that include nutrition care for the management of chronic pain. This Perspective describes evidence supporting the implementation of nutrition care in physical therapist practice, supports the role of nutritional pain management for physical therapists, and encourages the use of nutrition care for primary, secondary, tertiary, prevention, health promotion, and wellness related to chronic pain. To achieve these aims, this Perspective offers suggestions for how physical therapists can (1) enhance clinical decision making; (2) expand professional, jurisdictional, and personal scope of practice; (3) evolve entry-level education; and (4) stimulate new investigations in nutrition care and pain science research. In doing so, physical therapists can assert their role throughout the pain management continuum, champion innovative research initiatives, and enhance public health by reducing the impact of chronic pain.

IMPACT

The nutrition care process for pain management is defined as the basic duty to provide adequate and appropriate nutrition education and counseling to people living with pain. Including the nutrition care process as part of a multimodal approach to pain management provides an opportunity for physical therapists to assert their role throughout the pain management continuum. This includes championing innovative research initiatives and enhancing public health by reducing the impact of chronic pain for over 50 million Americans.

Evaluating the relationship between empathy, pain knowledge and attitudes among nursing students

BACKGROUND

It is essential for nurses to manage pain effectively. Nurses start to learn about pain while still students. Pain assessment is more effective with knowledge of pain, positive attitude, and empathy. Nurse educators should evaluate nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward pain management and their relationship with empathy and should revise the curriculum accordingly. No published studies have been found to date where the relationship between nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward pain and empathy has been investigated.

OBJECTIVES

This aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting pain knowledge and attitudes of nursing students, and to evaluate the relationship between students level of empathy and pain knowledge and attitudes.

DESIGN

This study was a quantitative, descriptive-correlation design.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

The study population was 150 students who were studying in the third and senior grades a nursing department in North Cyprus. The sample included 133 nursing students.

METHODS

Data were collected with the 'Student Descriptive Information Form', 'Knowledge and Attitude about Pain' questionnaire, and the "Basic Empathy Scale" (BES). The data were evaluated with descriptive analysis, nonparametric tests, and correlation analysis by using SPSS 20.0 program.

RESULTS

Mean affective and cognitive empathy scores were 30.16 (SD = 4.42) and 29.29 (SD = 2.65), respectively, and the mean score obtained from the Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain was 13.50 (SD = 3.22). Furthermore, 91% of the participants stated that the patient is the most accurate judge of the intensity of pain, but only 1.5% of them responded correctly to questions on pharmacological methods of pain therapy. A weakly positive correlation was found between cognitive (r = 0.100, p = 0.252) and affective (r = 0.013, p = 0.881) empathy levels and pain knowledge and attitudes; nevertheless, this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The study results indicate that curricula regarding pain management should improve the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students toward pain management. Seminars and practical training about how to use empathy in pain management should be planned and clinical practice should be scheduled more frequently.

No gain without pain education: Improving knowledge and biopsychosocial attitudes and beliefs in a predominantly non-health-related undergraduate target audience

OBJECTIVES

Chronic pain (CP) impacts individuals and society and is the leading cause of disability globally. Pain education interventions are often evaluated in patients and health professional students, but not in non-health student groups. Increasing knowledge of pain may facilitate shifts in attitudes and beliefs towards sufferers. We report on changes in pain knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of predominantly non-health-related tertiary degree students participating in online education.

METHODS

Quantitative cohort study design. Students reported demographics and completed the Chronic Pain Myth Scale and 12-item Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) before (T1) and after (T2) the 7-week online module at The University of Sydney in 2020.

RESULTS

Twenty-two students undertaking predominantly non-health-related bachelor's degrees (16.5% response rate, 90.9% female, mean = 19.5 years) participated. NPQ scores increased from 47.3% to 62.9%. Attitudes and beliefs towards biopsychosocial impact improved (p < 0.027) but not towards individuals suffering from CP or treatment of CP. A negative correlation was found between age and people suffering from CP (ρ = -0.437, p < 0.042) and age and towards treatment of CP; ρ = -0.556, p < 0.007) at T2.

CONCLUSION

Completing the elective online module resulted in improved knowledge and biopsychosocial attitudes towards CP in this predominantly non-health cohort, as reported in health and patient cohorts.

System-level policies on appropriate opioid use, a multi-stakeholder consensus

BACKGROUND

This consensus statement was developed because there are concerns about the appropriate use of opioids for acute pain management, with opposing views in the literature. Consensus statement on policies for system-level interventions may help inform organisations such as management structures, government agencies and funding bodies.

METHODS

We conducted a multi-stakeholder survey using a modified Delphi methodology focusing on policies, at the system level, rather than at the prescriber or patient level. We aimed to provide consensus statements for current developments and priorities for future developments.

RESULTS

Twenty-five experts from a variety of fields with experience in acute pain management were invited to join a review panel, of whom 23 completed a modified Delphi survey of policies designed to improve the safety and quality of opioids prescribing for acute pain in the secondary care setting. Strong agreement, defined as consistent among> 75% of panellists, was observed for ten statements.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a modified Delphi study, we found agreement among a multidisciplinary panel, including patient representation, on prioritisation of policies for system-level interventions, to improve governance, pain management, patient/consumers care, safety and engagement.

Health care providers' understanding of self-management support for people with chronic low back pain in Ethiopia: an interpretive description

BACKGROUND

Healthcare providers play a key role in supporting people with chronic low back pain to self-manage their condition. The study aimed at exploring how health care providers understand and conceptualize self-management and how they provide self-management support for people with chronic low back pain in Ethiopia.

METHODS

Health care providers who have supported people with low back pain, including medical doctors and physiotherapists, were approached and recruited from three hospitals in Ethiopia. This study employed an interpretive descriptive approach using semi-structured interviews.

FINDINGS

Twenty-four participants (7 women; 17 men) with a median age of 28 (range 24 to 42) years and a median of 9.5 years (range 1 to 11 years) of helping people with chronic low back pain were interviewed. Seven major themes related to health care providers' understanding of self-management support for people with chronic low back pain in Ethiopia emerged. The findings show that self-management was a new concept to many and health care providers' had a fragmented understanding of self-management. They used or suggested several self-management support strategies to help people with CLBP self-manage their condition without necessarily focusing on enhancing their self-efficacy skills. The participants also discussed several challenges to facilitate self-management support for people with chronic low back pain. Despite the lack of training on the concept, the providers discussed the potential of providing self-management support for people with the condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-management was a new concept to health care providers. The providers lack the competencies to provide self-management support for people with chronic low back pain. There is a need to enhance the health care providers' self-management support competencies through training.

Development of a national pain management competency profile to guide entry-level physiotherapy education in Canada

BACKGROUND

National strategies from North America call for substantive improvements in entry-level pain management education to help reduce the burden of chronic pain. Past work has generated a valuable set of interprofessional pain management competencies to guide the education of future health professionals. However, there has been very limited work that has explored the development of such competencies for individual professions in different regions. Developing profession-specific competencies tailored to the local context is a necessary first step to integrate them within local regulatory systems. Our group is working toward this goal within the context of entry-level physiotherapy (PT) programs across Canada.

AIMS

This study aimed to create a consensus-based competency profile for pain management, specific to the Canadian PT context.

METHODS

A modified Delphi design was used to achieve consensus across Canadian university-based and clinical pain educators.

RESULTS

Representatives from 14 entry-level PT programs (93% of Canadian programs) and six clinical educators were recruited. After two rounds, a total of 15 competencies reached the predetermined endorsement threshold (75%). Most participants (85%) reported being "very satisfied" with the process.

CONCLUSIONS

This process achieved consensus on a novel pain management competency profile specific to the Canadian PT context. The resulting profile delineates the necessary abilities required by physiotherapists to manage pain upon entry to practice. Participants were very satisfied with the process. This study also contributes to the emerging literature on integrated research in pain management by profiling research methodology that can be used to inform related work in other health professions and regions.

Barriers to Working with Patients Who Misuse Opioids and Physician Burnout: Implications for Medical Education

BACKGROUND

Physicians are on the front lines of the U.S. opioid epidemic, providing care in multiple treatment settings. Very little is known, however, about whether this experience has contributed to physician burnout. This information is critical for guiding efforts to expand the relatively low level of training on opioid misuse currently available in medical education.

METHODS

We surveyed 408 board-certified physicians practicing in Ohio about their experiences working with patients who misuse opioids. We also collected quantitative measures of physicians' burnout and their level of contact with this patient population. We coded and analyzed open-ended responses and calculated a partial correlation between contact and burnout, controlling for relevant factors.

RESULTS

Physicians experienced three primary barriers when working with patients who misuse opioids: inadequate knowledge and training, limited external resources and partnerships in their communities, and an incomplete context for understanding problematic patient behaviors. 70% of physicians experienced negative emotions when working with this patient population and 19% mentioned experiencing burnout specifically. Contact with patients who misuse opioids was significantly and positively associated with burnout scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the need for medical educators to take a proactive approach to equipping physicians with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to effectively work with patients who misuse opioids.

Student nurses' pain knowledge and attitudes towards pain management over the last 20 years: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To discover if nursing students have improved their level of pain knowledge and their attitudes towards pain management over the last 20 years.

DESIGN

Systematic review utilising the Kable, Pich, and Maslin-Prothero 12 step approach to document a search strategy.

DATA SOURCES

A search was conducted from 2000 to 2020 using CINAHL, PubMed, Embase and ProQuest.

REVIEW METHODS

Studies exploring the level of pain management knowledge and attitudes of nursing students were included. The Critical Review Form - Quantitative Studies provided the appraisal framework (Law et al., 1998). A narrative synthesis of eligible studies was undertaken.

RESULTS

Six studies with a total of 1454 participants were included. The studies demonstrated that nursing students have not improved their level of pain knowledge and attitudes towards pain management in the last 20 years. Whilst many nursing students thought they possessed adequate pain knowledge, the studies all demonstrated that their pain knowledge is lacking and that they do not have appropriate attitudes towards pain. Students did not recognise the patient who was not grimacing as being in pain despite the patient report of pain.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the notion that nursing education does not include sufficient focus on pain identification and management. Alignment of nursing pain education with the curriculum developed in 1993 by the International Association for the Study of Pain is needed to ensure nurses have appropriate knowledge so that patients can receive effective pain management.

Patient Satisfaction With a Nurse-Led Pain Management Program: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Ethiopia

Introduction

Patient satisfaction is one of the important indicators of quality care.

Objective

To examine patient ratings of pain management satisfaction before and after introducing a nurse-led management program.

Methods

A quasi-experimental design with three cross-sectional surveys between October 1, 2016 and June 15, 2017. A total of 845 patients admitted to the four inpatient departments (medicine, surgery, maternity, and gynecology) of Jimma University Medical Centre were invited to participate in the study. A questionnaire adapted from the American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire, Pain Treatment Satisfaction Scale, and related literature was used for the survey. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test (categorical variables), t-tests for continuous variables, and robust regression to determine the effect of nurse-led management program on patient satisfaction. For all tests, p-values <.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Of the 845 patients invited, 782 (92.5%) participated in the surveys—Survey 1: N = 256; Survey 2: N = 259; Survey 3: N = 267. The proportion of patients who perceived that staff responded within 30 min increased from 67.8% in Survey 1 to 71.1% in Survey 2 and 74.2% in Survey 3. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = strongly dissatisfied and 5 = strongly satisfied), the overall mean patient satisfaction with pain management was 3.61 (SD 0.80) in Survey 1, 3.81 (SD 0.86) in Survey 2, and 4.10 (SD 0.64) in Survey 3. Moreover, the patients scored significantly higher on all satisfaction items in Survey 2 (B ranged between 0.12 and 0.41) and Survey 3 (B ranged between 0.24 and 0.74) compared to Survey 1.

Conclusion

The patients’ ratings of their satisfaction and staff nurse responsiveness following the nurse-led pain management program have increased compared to the levels before the intervention. However, further studies, including those with a control group, are warranted to confirm the results.