Analgesic Stewardship: Non-Opioids and Adjunct Therapies

Effective pain management can significantly improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Are you confident in your ability to manage pain safely and effectively without relying solely on opioids?

This Ausmed Course equips healthcare professionals with evidence-based strategies based on analgesic stewardship to safely integrate non-opioid analgesics into pain management, helping to improve patient safety and outcomes through informed, effective care.

This is the first of two courses in the Analgesic Stewardship series. Check out the second course in the series, Analgesic Stewardship: Opioids here.

Pharmacists, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, paramedics and other healthcare professionals across all settings who seek to deepen their knowledge of pain management, specifically non-opioid pharmacology and adjunct therapies.

In 2022, chronic pain affected 3.4 million Australians, with 68% of those affected being of working age. It contributes to 40% of early retirements and increases the risk of suicidal behaviour 2 to 3 times. The national financial burden of pain was $73.2 billion in 2018 and is projected to rise to $215.6 billion by 2050.

Despite the prevalence and impact of pain, many healthcare practitioners have a poor understanding of pain mechanisms and contemporary management options. This knowledge gap can lead to suboptimal pain control and increased patient suffering. Clinicians play crucial roles in pain management across various healthcare settings. However, many lack specific training in advanced pharmacological strategies for pain control, including the use of non-opioid and adjunct therapy alternatives.

This education will equip learners with up-to-date knowledge on pain pharmacology, non-opioid and adjunct therapy options, and safe prescribing practices essential for improving patient outcomes and the overall quality of care provided to individuals experiencing pain. To enhance learner understanding of how non-opioid analgesics and adjunctive therapies should be safely utilised for pharmacology in pain management according to effective analgesic stewardship programs.

To enhance learner understanding of how non-opioid analgesics and adjunctive therapies should be safely utilised for pharmacology in pain management according to effective analgesic stewardship programs.