Module 3: Assessment

Lesson 1

Learning Outcome

Describe the epidemiology, comprehensive assessment, safety considerations, and goals of care that need to be addressed in prescribing controlled substances for chronic pain.

Introduction

Pain refers to an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage. Specific terminology and definitions are provided by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). Chronic pain is differentiated from acute pain. In this lesson, the epidemiology and comprehensive assessment of chronic pain are examined; safety considerations and the goals of care in prescribing therapy for chronic pain are discussed; and special considerations in the assessment of chronic pain in children, adolescents and older adults are reviewed.