Leader: Dr G Wallace

Offered

Clayton First semester 2008 (Off-campus)
Clayton Second semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This elective covers the following; basic definition, anatomy, physiology of pain, psychological aspects of pain, evaluation of the patient with pain, role of the GP in pain management, role of pain clinics, specific disorders - migraine, neck and facial pain, TMJ, thoracic and lumbar pain, musculoskeletal pain including fibro myalgic, cancer pain and pain management in palliative care.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Apply a better understanding of pain physiology and assessment in their practice;
2. Understand the pain experience and its ramifications, recognising that whole person care is essential;
3. Use a range of practical pain management strategies and techniques in dealing safely and effectively with patient's pain;
4. Address the complex issue of spinal pain with a logical diagnostic and management approach;
5. Recognise the concept of soft tissue rheumatism (localised inflammatory soft tissue disorders);
6. Recognise the wide range of causes of headache and develop a framework for a diagnostic approach;
7. Use the fibromyalgia syndrome model in their approach to a number of other painful chronic musculoskeletal diseases and conditions; and
8. Identify the particular needs of patients suffering cancer pain, and use a range of strategies, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, in alleviating pain.

Assessment

Pre and post course clinical audit (30%)
Assignment 1 (30%)
Assignment 2 (40%)