OBJECTIVE: The present exploratory, descriptive study aimed to determine the designated time for mandatory pain content in curricula of major Canadian universities for students in health science and veterinary programs before being licensed. METHOD: Major Canadian university sites (n=10) were chosen where health science faculties included at least medicine (n=10) and nursing (n=10); many also included dentistry (n=8), pharmacy (n=7), physical therapy (n=8) and/or occupational therapy (n=6). These disciplines provide the largest number of students entering the workforce but are not the only ones contributing to the health professional team. Veterinary programs (n=4) were also surveyed as a comparison. The Pain Education Survey, developed from previous research and piloted, was used to determine total mandatory pain hours. RESULTS: The majority of health science programs (67.5%) were unable to specify designated hours for pain. Only 32.5% respondents could identify specific hours allotted for pain course content and/or additional clinical conferences. The average total time per discipline across all years varied from 13 h to 41 h (range 0 h to 109 h). All veterinary respondents identified mandatory designated pain content time (mean 87 h, range 27 h to 200 h). The proportion allotted to the eight content categories varied, but time was least for pain misbeliefs, assessment and monitoring/follow-up planning. CONCLUSIONS: Only one-third of the present sample could identify time designated for teaching mandatory pain content. Two-thirds reported 'integrated' content that was not quantifiable or able to be determined, which may suggest it is not a priority at that site. Many expressed a need for pain-related curriculum resources.
OBJECTIVE: The present exploratory, descriptive study aimed to determine the designated time for mandatory pain content in curricula of major Canadian universities for students in health science and veterinary programs before being licensed. METHOD: Major Canadian university sites (n=10) were chosen where health science faculties included at least medicine (n=10) and nursing (n=10); many also included dentistry (n=8), pharmacy (n=7), physical therapy (n=8) and/or occupational therapy (n=6). These disciplines provide the largest number of students entering the workforce but are not the only ones contributing to the health professional team. Veterinary programs (n=4) were also surveyed as a comparison. The Pain Education Survey, developed from previous research and piloted, was used to determine total mandatory pain hours. RESULTS: The majority of health science programs (67.5%) were unable to specify designated hours for pain. Only 32.5% respondents could identify specific hours allotted for pain course content and/or additional clinical conferences. The average total time per discipline across all years varied from 13 h to 41 h (range 0 h to 109 h). All veterinary respondents identified mandatory designated pain content time (mean 87 h, range 27 h to 200 h). The proportion allotted to the eight content categories varied, but time was least for pain misbeliefs, assessment and monitoring/follow-up planning. CONCLUSIONS: Only one-third of the present sample could identify time designated for teaching mandatory pain content. Two-thirds reported 'integrated' content that was not quantifiable or able to be determined, which may suggest it is not a priority at that site. Many expressed a need for pain-related curriculum resources.
Authors: Judy Watt-Watson; Judi Hunter; Peter Pennefather; Larry Librach; Lalitha Raman-Wilms; Martin Schreiber; Leila Lax; Jennifer Stinson; Thuan Dao; Allan Gordon; David Mock; Michael Salter Journal: Pain Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 6.961
Authors: Judith Hunter; Judy Watt-Watson; Michael McGillion; Lalitha Raman-Wilms; Lynn Cockburn; Leila Lax; Jennifer Stinson; Andrea Cameron; Thuan Dao; Peter Pennefather; Martin Schreiber; Larry Librach; Tricia Kavanagh; Allan Gordon; Nora Cullen; David Mock; Michael Salter Journal: Pain Date: 2008-09-05 Impact factor: 6.961
Authors: Jocelyn E Blouin; Miranda A Cary; Mackenzie G Marchant; Nancy C Gyurcsik; Danielle R Brittain; Jenelle Zapski Journal: Physiother Can Date: 2019 Impact factor: 1.037
Authors: Marie K Hoeger Bement; Barbara J St Marie; Terry M Nordstrom; Nicole Christensen; Jennifer M Mongoven; Ian J Koebner; Scott M Fishman; Kathleen A Sluka Journal: Phys Ther Date: 2013-12-05
Authors: Beth B Murinson; Vitaly Gordin; Susie Flynn; Larry C Driver; Rollin M Gallagher; Martin Grabois Journal: Pain Med Date: 2013-02-06 Impact factor: 3.750