FEATURED Medical education topic: Alternative Methods for Pain Management

Chronic pain is a common condition among adults in the United States, limiting daily life and work activities. In 2023, it was estimated that 24.3% of U.S. adults had chronic pain. Often, healthcare professionals struggle with assessing and managing pain appropriately in their patients. They sometimes over-prescribe medications for their patients with acute and chronic pain. Good pain control can be achieved with non-opioids, such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioid analgesics, and, in some cases, adjuvant agents.  Recently a novel non-opioid treatment for acute pain was approved, offering an opportunity to mitigate certain risks associated with opioid use. It is important for physicians to be up to date on timely pain control, the usage of safe opioid prescription protocols, and appropriate alternative pain management options for acute and chronic pain.

Proposed Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this activity, the learners will be able to:

• Educate patients about the benefits vs. potential harms of opioids and other medications used for acute and chronic pain
• Examine the basis and evidence for alternative approaches to chronic pain management in clinical practice
• Integrate communication skills in providers’ clinical workflow to help patients develop personalized pain care plans that emphasize pain self-management strategies

If your medical staff needs an update on alternative methods for pain management, consider contacting our office to book a speaker at 877-505-4777 or info@speakersnetwork.com.

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db518.html

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-novel-non-opioid-treatment-moderate-severe-acute-pain