Pain Management

Course Overview

This Course will provide an overview of the pathophysiology, types, signs and symptoms of pain, as well as what factors can influence pain, conducting a pain assessment, and how pain differs in older adults and those with cognitive impairment.

Topics

• Definition and pathophysiology of pain;
• Types of pain;
• Signs and symptoms of pain;
• Factors influencing pain;
• Pain assessment, including pain scales;
• Evaluating pain management.

Need

Understanding the basic concepts of pain can facilitate more effective patient-specific pain management interventions.

In order to assist patients to meet their treatment goals, regardless of whether the pain is acute or chronic, it is vital that health professionals clearly understand evidenced-based knowledge about pain, and the patient's pain history and experience.

Purpose

The purpose of this Course is to review underpinning pain concepts and fundamental assessment skills to support effective management of pain experienced by people in your care.

Learning Outcomes

• Use knowledge about the pathophysiology, types and uniqueness of pain, to facilitate effective pain management.
• Identify barriers that may interfere with effective pain assessment and subsequent treatment.
• Choose the appropriate tool for measuring pain and associated symptoms, to assess and reassess specific patients.

Target Audience

This Course is relevant to registered nurses and other health professionals, especially those who may administer opioids and analgesics, as part of the management of acute, chronic and post-surgical pain.

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educator

Jenny Gowan

Jenny Gowan, a practising pharmacist, is a teaching associate at Monash University, Melbourne and a clinical associate of RMIT University. She is a member of the PSA Branch committee, the Expert Group for Therapeutic Guidelines – Respiratory version 5, an editorial board member of AUS-DI, SHPA "Don’t Rush to Crush", the Guidelines Committee for the Australian Asthma Handbook (AAH) and the writing group for the RACGP ‘Medical Care of older persons in RACF’ (Silver book). Jenny is an accredited consultant pharmacist who conducts her own company, which focuses on medication reviews in the home and aged care facilities, plus education, writing, training and consultation. Jenny works regularly in community pharmacy plus sessions in a GP clinic at a community health centre. She has published over 400 educational articles. Jenny has presented talks at many Australian and international conferences to GPs, nurse practitioners, nurses, podiatrists, pharmacists, and other health professionals. In 2013, she was awarded the Australian Pharmacist of the Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and, in 2016, the AACP-MIMs Australian Consultant Pharmacist of the Year. See Educator Profile