Pain Medicine

Pain medicine – Core Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes:

* To be competent in the assessment and effective management of acute post-operative and acute non post-operative pain
* To acquire knowledge necessary to provide a basic understanding of the management of chronic pain in adults
* To recognise the special circumstances in assessing and treating pain in children, the older person and those with communication difficulties
* To demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of post-op analgesia requirements for children, the older person and those with communication difficulties

Core clinical learning outcomes:

* Competence in the assessment of acute surgical and non surgical pain and demonstrate the ability to treat effectively
* To have an understanding of chronic pain in adults

Knowledge

  • PM_BK_01 Recalls the anatomy and physiology of pain medicine to include nociceptive, visceral and neuropathic pain
  • PM_BK_02 Describes drugs used to manage pain and their pharmacology [including but not limited to opioids, NSAIDs, Coxibs, local anaesthetics and drugs used to manage neuropathic pain]
  • PM_BK_03 Explains the principles of neural blockade for acute pain management
  • PM_BK_04 Describes the methods of assessment of pain
  • PM_BK_05 Explains the relationship between acute and chronic pain
  • PM_BK_06 Describes a basic understanding of chronic pain in adults
  • PM_BK_07 Explains the importance of the biopsychosocial aspects of pain
  • PM_BK_08 Describes the organisation and objectives of an acute pain service
  • PM_BK_09 Explains the limitations of pain medicine

Skills

  • PM_BS_01 Demonstrates the ability to assess manage and monitor acute surgical and non surgical pain and side effects of medication
  • PM_BS_02 Demonstrates appropriate and safe drug prescribing
  • PM_BS_03 Demonstrates the safe use of equipment used to manage pain including equipment used for PCA, epidurals and inhalational techniques
  • PM_BS_04 Demonstrates the safe and effective use of local anaesthetic peripheral and regional neural blockade techniques
  • PM_BS_05 Demonstrates the ability to manage severe unrelieved acute pain and distress in a timely, safe and effective manner
  • PM_BS_06 Demonstrates the importance of regular on-going monitoring of pain management/follow up
  • PM_BS_07 Demonstrates recognition of acute neuropathic pain
  • PM_BS_08 Demonstrates recognition of chronic neuropathic pain