Program helps pharmacists wise up to pain

A new online program has been launched to ensure pharmacists are well placed to manage pain. The PainWISE ONLINE Program — launched by PainWISE in partnership with Arrotex — contains a new key feature and will be available via the Online Learning Management System.

Research suggests that one in five Australians will suffer chronic pain in their lifetime, with up to 80% of people living with chronic pain reportedly missing out on treatment. For this reason, it is important that pharmacists are equipped to provide the most relevant and up-to-date advice on pain management, especially as pharmacists are often the first point of contact for most patients suffering persistent pain.

Clinical Pharmacist, Pain Educator and Managing Director of PainWISE Joyce McSwan said there are several ways in which the online program will aid the role of pharmacists when it comes to pain management.

“The PainWISE Online program provides the pharmacist with the latest information in pain management, relevant to their scope of practice. It provides them with clinical knowledge and helps pharmacists to put their learnings into practice.

“From being able to make better product selection that is personalised to their patient’s type of pain, to monitoring the safe use of analgesics, to discussing other adjunctive evidence-based alternatives with patients, this program builds value to their existing pharmacy services,” McSwan explained.

The PainWISE Pharmacy Professional Service program focuses on equipping pharmacists with tools to educate patients about their pain experience, help the patient make safer and better evidence-based purchasing decisions and optimise their pain-management planning to improve their persistent pain condition.

McSwan explained that pain can be a very isolating journey, with difficult-to-access services and long wait times.

“The trained pharmacist will be able to confidently adapt the pain science to the patient’s priorities and needs. The mentoring and coaching aspect beyond the education component for the pharmacist is also unique to the PainWISE Program, as no other current pain education program provides that degree of support,” she said.

The new online platform is a self-paced learning program with bite-sized modules that are easy for pharmacists to fit into their busy schedules. At completion, participants will achieve up to 10 CPD points.

Pharmacists simply enquire and register online and once registration is approved, they can commence their learning modules.

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