Knowledge and Skills in chronic pain: Gap analysis in chronic disease management

Pain management: acute or chronic?

One of the aims of the NSW Pain Plan is to enable clinicians to access best practice knowledge and skills in the management of chronic non cancer pain. Chronic pain is pain that has been present for longer than 3 months, or beyond the time it takes for tissues to heal. Chronic pain can result in distress for the patient and frequent use of emergency departments. It often lacks coordinated care options following transfer of care. This survey is designed to identify the support needs and gaps in knowledge, and skill base for clinicians of all disciplines working in the public sector in the integrated care, and chronic and complex disease management sectors in NSW. The results of this survey will assist in the development of education and upskilling opportunities.

This survey should take no more than 5 - 10 minutes to complete. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

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* 1. Which Local Health District do you work in?

North Coast LHD

Mid North Coast LHD

Sydney LHD

Southeastern Sydney LHD

Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD

Western Sydney LHD

Far West NSWLHD

Central Coast LHD

Northern Sydney LHD

SCHN

St Vincent's Network

South western Sydney LHD

Nepean Blue Mountains

Hunter New England LHD

Southern NSW LHD

Western NSW LHD

Murrumbidgee LHD

Justice Health

Forensic Mental Health

Other (please specify)

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* 2. What area do you work in?

Integrated care

Chronic disease management

Outpatient and Ambulatory care

Emergency department

Other

Other (please specify)

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* 3. What is your discipline?

Social worker

Nurse

Occupational therapist

Physiotherapist

Doctor

Exercise physiologist

Dietitian

Psychologist

Other

Other (please specify)

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* 4. What setting do you work in?

Inpatient

Outpatient

Emergency care

Community

General practice/primary care setting

All of the above

Other

Other (please specify)

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* 5. What type of chronic pain patients do you see?

low back pain

abdominal pain

headache

neuropathic pain eg post shingles, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

neck and arm pain

All of the above

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Briefly describe your role

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* 7. Can you estimate the percentage of your workload spent supporting people with management of their chronic pain as a primary condition?

0 -10%

11 - 30%

31 - 50%

51% or more

Please describe the nature of your work on chronic pain

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* 8. Can you estimate what percentage of your workload is spent supporting people with management of their chronic pain as a co morbid condition?

0 -10%

11 - 30%

31 - 50%

51% or more

Please describe the nature of your work on chronic pain and the co morbid groups you work with

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* 9. List the multidisciplinary team members you have access to on a regular basis

Physiotherapist

Occupational therapist

Social worker

Psychologist

Doctor

Nurse

Other

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Have you had any previous chronic non cancer pain management education?

Yes

If yes, please describe if you feel confident to apply this education in practice. If No, please comment

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* 11. Rate your confidence in managing chronic pain

Please rate you confidence between 0-10 by sliding the pointer

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 12. Do you routinely screen for the effects of chronic pain on the lives of the patients you see with chronic conditions?

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 13. Which of the following clinical resources or assessment tools for pain management do you use in your practice (tick all that apply)

Pain assessment tools eg Brief Pain Inventory, Orebro (OMPSQ10), Pain Catastrophising Scale, Pain Self Efficacy Scale, DASS 21, K10, Abbey, Painad

Visual Analogue Scale, Numerical rating scale

ACI pain management website

Pete Moore Pain Toolkit

Understanding Pain 'U' Tube video

Explain pain approach (Butler and Mosley)

Start Back tool

No assessment tool is used

Other

Other (please specify)

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* 14. What are the challenges in managing chronic pain in your environment?

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* 15. What resources do you access or refer people to who have chronic pain?

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* 16. Please identify areas you might like more information about to improve the management of chronic pain for your patients (tick all that apply)

Neurophysiology of pain

Role of medications in pain management

Role of opioids in chronic non cancer pain

Neuropathic pain

Evidence base for psychological management of chronic pain

Evidence base for physical management of chronic pain

Evidence base for lifestyle management of chronic pain

Referral information and pathways to specialist services

Options in treatment approaches

Other (please specify)

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* 17. Please identify areas you would like to develop skills to assist you with the care of patients with chronic non cancer pain (tick all that apply)

Pacing

Other physical modalities

Pain education

Having a brief conversation with a patient about pain/motivational interview

Goal setting

Relaxation

Cognitive behaviour therapy

Developing a pain plan

Other (please specify)

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* 18. How would you like to receive education or resources developed for pain management? (tick all that apply)

Online via webinar

E learning modules

Hard copy (pdf)

YouTube

Face to face workshops or education sessions

Specialist consultation

Mentoring via telehealth

Other

Other (please specify)

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* 1. Which Local Health District do you work in?

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* 2. What area do you work in?

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* 3. What is your discipline?

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* 4. What setting do you work in?

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* 5. What type of chronic pain patients do you see?

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* 6. Briefly describe your role

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* 7. Can you estimate the percentage of your workload spent supporting people with management of their chronic pain as a primary condition?

Question Title

* 8. Can you estimate what percentage of your workload is spent supporting people with management of their chronic pain as a co morbid condition?

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* 9. List the multidisciplinary team members you have access to on a regular basis

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* 10. Have you had any previous chronic non cancer pain management education?

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* 11. Rate your confidence in managing chronic pain

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* 12. Do you routinely screen for the effects of chronic pain on the lives of the patients you see with chronic conditions?

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* 13. Which of the following clinical resources or assessment tools for pain management do you use in your practice (tick all that apply)

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* 14. What are the challenges in managing chronic pain in your environment?

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* 15. What resources do you access or refer people to who have chronic pain?

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* 16. Please identify areas you might like more information about to improve the management of chronic pain for your patients (tick all that apply)

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* 17. Please identify areas you would like to develop skills to assist you with the care of patients with chronic non cancer pain (tick all that apply)

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* 18. How would you like to receive education or resources developed for pain management? (tick all that apply)

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* 19. Please enter your email address if you would be interested in webinar training

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* 20. Do you have any further comments?