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    Overview

    Current understanding of the best practice principles for the management and treatment of all forms of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, including modern psychosocial approaches to pain therapy.

    Unlike other health problems such as hypertension or diabetes, there are no objective markers reflecting the experience of pain. It is subjective. Many factors influence individuals' experience of pain and their response to treatment. This paper provides a solid foundation for clinicians to understand treatment approaches used for pain, from assessment and case formulation to providing an appropriate intervention and monitoring treatment outcomes. The paper will provide students with the opportunity to understand interdisciplinary/interprofessional contributions to pain management and to integrate a biopsychosocial perspective.

    About this paper

    Paper title Introduction to Pain Management
    Subject Musculoskeletal Medicine
    EFTS 0.125
    Points 15 points
    Teaching period Semester 2 (Distance learning)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,494.75
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Restriction
    MSMX 708
    Limited to
    MHealSc, MPhty, PGCertHealSc, PGCertMSM, PGDipHealSc, PGDipMSM, PGDipPhty
    Eligibility
    Suitable for appropriately qualified allied health professionals such as medical practitioners, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, osteopaths, etc.

    Note: This paper is a pre-requisite for PAIN 702 Biomedical Pain Management and PAIN 703 Psychosocial and Cultural Aspects of Pain.
    Contact

    msmandpainstudies.uoc@otago.ac.nz

    Teaching staff

    Paper Coordinator: Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson

    Paper Structure
    MSME 708 consists of eight modules taught using both online resources and online teaching sessions.

    The eight modules cover assessment, case formulation, outcome measurement, factors confounding treatments and outcome measurement, psychological, functional, pharmacological and injection treatments for acute and chronic pain, and emerging treatments.
    Teaching Arrangements
    Material is provided electronically via Blackboard. Discussions are held fortnightly using Zoom Videoconferencing. Students are encouraged to interact via online discussion.
    Textbooks
    "Pain - A Textbook for Health Professionals" 2nd edition (2014) by Hubert van Griensven, Jenny Strong and Anita M.Unruh. Published by Churchill Livingstone. Available from Amazon, The Book Depository or the publishers directly
    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Critical thinking, Ethics, Information literacy.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    At the completion of this paper, students will have a comprehensive introduction to pain management approaches used in both acute and chronic pain. An interprofessional approach is encouraged. Students who successfully complete the paper will be able to answer the two key clinical questions of:

    1. Why is this person presenting in this way at this time?
    2. What can be done to reduce this person's distress and disability?

    A systematic approach to clinical reasoning is used, and students become familiar with the contributions of a range of health professionals while focusing on treatments with a sound evidence base.

    Timetable

    Semester 2

    Location
    Christchurch
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught through Distance Learning
    Learning management system
    Blackboard
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