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Cited by 212Innovations in Medical EducationPain Management and Opioid UseHealth and Medical Education

Survey of undergraduate pain curricula for healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom

Briggsl, Emma V., Carrl, Eloise C.J., Whittakerl, Maggie S.·2011·European Journal of Pain
DOI 10.1016/j.ejpain.2011.01.006
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Abstract

The prevalence and burden of pain has long been reported as problematic. Comprehensive pain education in undergraduate programmes is essential for developing knowledgeable, skilled and effective healthcare professionals. This cross‐sectional survey describes the nature, content and learning strategies for pain curricula in undergraduate healthcare programmes in major universities in the United Kingdom (UK). Document analysis also highlighted gaps in pain‐related standards from professional regulators and a higher education quality assurance body. The sample consisted of 19 higher education institutions delivering 108 programmes across dentistry, medicine, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary science. Seventy‐four (68.5%) questionnaires were returned averaging 12.0 h of pain content with physiotherapy and veterinary science students receiving the highest input. Pain education accounted for less than 1% of programme hours for some disciplines. Traditional teaching methods dominated (e.g. lectures 87.8%) and only two programmes had fully implemented the International Association for the Study of Pain's (IASP) curricula. Minimal pain‐related standards were found from professional regulators and the quality assurance documents. Pain education is variable across and within disciplines and interprofessional learning is minimal. Published curricula for pain education have been available for over 20 years but are rarely employed and pain is not a core part of regulatory and quality assurance standards for health professions. The hours of pain education is woefully inadequate given the prevalence and burden of pain. Recommendations include the introduction of pain‐related educational standards across all professions, greater integration of pain content in undergraduate programmes and interprofessional approaches to the topic.

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  • Pain is one of the main reasons for patients seeking contact with healthcare.

    “Consultations on pain account for 22 % of all primary care consultations [12], and pain is one of the main reasons for patients seeking contact with healthcare [18].”

    From Identification and Management of Chronic Pain in Primary Care: a Review (2016) · cites this paper as [18]

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Authors
Briggsl, E. V., Carrl, E. C. J., & Whittakerl, M. S.
Affiliations
University of Essex (GB)
Venue
European Journal of Pain
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2011-09
Volume
15
Issue
8
Pages
789-795
ISSN
  • 1090-3801 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-2149
DOI
10.1016/j.ejpain.2011.01.006
OpenAlex
W1518166510
Cited by
212
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 17
FWCI
2.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 134 d)
Locations
  • European Journal of Pain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Open Access at Essex (University of Essex) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Medical Education
Keywords
pain education, undergraduate health professions education, quality assurance standards, interprofessional education, teaching methods, dental education, nursing education, physiotherapy education, veterinary education
MeSH terms
Cross-Sectional Studies, Curriculum, Education, Medical, Undergraduate, United Kingdom, Health Surveys, Humans, Neurology, Pain Measurement, Pain Management

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