Interprofessional pain education: definitions, exemplars and future directions

Abstract

1. The management of pain frequently requires healthcare professionals (HCPs) to work together; thus, educational preparation should afford them opportunities to learn about the management of pain together. 2. Survey data suggest that most HCPs' curricula do not provide opportunities for learners to come together to learn about pain and understand their professional roles. 3. Despite the growth of published evaluations of interprofessional education (IPE) and pain, the ability to draw firm conclusions has been hampered by the lack of methodological heterogeneity across studies. 4. New directions in IPE and pain include innovative pedagogical approaches, web-based learning, standardised patients and simulated learning. 5. Harnessing the political agenda can offer a valuable opportunity to raise the profile and prominence of pain education for HCPs.