Evidence-Based Pain Management: Interventions, Approaches, and Best Practices

Goals & Objectives:

Course Overview

This comprehensive course explores contemporary approaches to pain management, emphasizing evidence-based interventions and best practices across healthcare disciplines. Led by Dr. Lorie Schleck, DPT, an APTA clinical specialist in geriatrics, this course provides healthcare professionals with a thorough understanding of pain mechanisms, assessment strategies, and modern treatment approaches.

Key topics include:

• Current pain models and the transition from biomedical to biopsychosocial approaches
• Comprehensive pain assessment techniques and identification of red/yellow flags
• Psychological factors affecting pain, including catastrophizing, attention, and coping strategies
• Social and emotional influences on pain perception and management
• Evidence-based interventions, including:
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Exercise prescription and physical activity guidelines
  • Physical modalities
  • Motivational interviewing techniques
  • Discipline-specific best practices for nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this course, the learner should be able to:

• Apply modern pain science concepts in clinical practice.
• Implement comprehensive pain assessment protocols, including screening for psychological factors.
• Analyze evidence-based treatment strategies incorporating both active and passive interventions.
• Apply discipline-specific best practices in pain management.
• Utilize appropriate cognitive-behavioral strategies and coping skills in patient care.