Principles of Pain

This course aims to provide a theoretical framework for health care professionals to use in the management of people with acute and chronic pain. Using a combined didactic and workshop approach, the facilitators will present the evidence that pain is a bio-psychosocial construct.

By the end of this module participants will:

*Know the multidimensional nature of pain - Epidemiology; Definitions and classification; Conceptual pain models; The nature of pain including the role of context

*Know the basic science of the physiology underlying acute and chronic pain and how the

nervous system can change

*Know the psychological and social factors which contribute to pain and its potential impact

*Be familiar with evidence-based tools for the screening and assessment of a person with pain

*Be able to develop an evidence-based patient-centred rehabilitation plan for a person with pain

*Be aware of the bioethical principles which are important in the assessment and management of pain