Chronic Pain: A Primer for Physicians

Faculty

Needs Statement

Chronic pain presents a significant burden to society in terms of lost workforce productivity and significant healthcare resource utilization and cost. Indeed, chronic pain is one of the most common reasons that patients consult a physician. Yet, despite the existence of safe and effective therapies (including antidepressants, anticonvulsants and opioids), pain is commonly undertreated. The most common obstacles to effective pain management are patient underreporting, inadequate assessment, lack of knowledge about available treatments and inadequate treatment.  Chronic Pain: A Primer for Physicians, a CME-accredited educational program, is designed to provide physicians with an overview of the current state-ofthe- art in relation to the diagnosis and management of chronic pain and thereby lead to improvement in patient outcomes.

Target Audience

Healthcare providers who treat patients with chronic pain.

Objectives

1. Understand the different presentations of chronic pain;
2. Appreciate the main classes of therapeutics available for the management of a range of chronic pain indications;
3. Identify effective clinical strategies for the use of opioids, including rapid-onset opioids, in patients with chronic pain;
4. Understand the principles of an effective risk-management strategy for the use of opioids in patients with chronic pain;
5. Understand the complementary actions of nonpharmacologic strategies and when these should be used in patients with chronic pain.

Accreditation

Medicine
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Remedica Medical Education. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 8.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent in the educational activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Pappagallo has relationships with Anesiva, Elan, GlaxoSmithKline, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Axiom Pharmaceutical and the National Institutes of Health.

Drs. Werner and Fraser report no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests of healthcare products or services related to this activity

Activity Sponsorship

This activity is jointly sponsored by the University of Kentucky and Remedica Medical Education. Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Cephalon.