Pain interferes with many daily activities. One of the goals of pain management is to reduce the effect of pain on function and quality of life. This hub provides access to all NPS MedicineWise resources focused on pain management.
Health professionals
Pain resources
- Communicating about pain
The resources on this page are designed to support effective conversations between health professionals and patients about managing non-cancer pain.
- Non-pharmacological and self-directed pain management
Non-pharmacological and self-directed pain management strategies are a key building block of any pain management plan. Explore information about supporting your patients in this section.
- Acute pain management
Pain can be experienced in many ways, from mild discomfort to severe and constant pain. There are also many different treatments for managing pain. Explore our resources to support the treatment of acute pain.
- Safe use of opioids in acute pain
These resources have been developed to support best practice in the safe use of opioids for acute pain in the post-operative period and emergency department.
- Chronic pain management
Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than 3 months or longer than expected for healing after surgery, injury or a condition. The cause may also be unknown. It is sometimes called 'persistent pain'. It can be a difficult to treat and balancing treatment options is vital.
- Analgesic safety and dependence
Evidence suggests that harmful effects of opioids are more likely to happen to people who take opioids for 3 months or more, or who take higher doses of opioids.
- Tapering and reducing opioids
Tapering opioids may not worsen chronic non-cancer pain, and recent evidence suggests that it improves function and quality of life.
On-demand webinars
Explore our range of pre-recorded webinars discussing pain and the role of medication for pharmacists, GPs and dentists.
For pharmacists
For GPs
- Opioid prescribing: strategies for GPs to optimise chronic non-cancer pain management and minimise harms
- Chronic pain: Supporting patients to taper opioids
For dentists
Video: communicating about opioids
This video explores conversations between health professionals and patients, and outlines ‘motivational interviewing’, which is the recommended evidence-based communication approach for these conversations, including its underlying ethos, four main principles and five key skills.
The video series has been developed with funding from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australian Government Department of Health, and in collaboration with Painaustralia Consumer Advisory Group.
Podcasts
Curated podcast episodes relating to pain management and medicines for pain:
- Tapering opioids in partnership with patients
- Safer patient care in the era of SafeScript
- Acute and chronic pain management
- Understanding codeine dependency: Diagnosis
- Understanding codeine dependency: Management
- Low back pain – providing reassurance, encouraging activity and reducing reliance on imaging
Health professional online learning
NPS MedicineWise produces online learning modules and activities to support best practice. NPS MedicineWise has curated the following modules to support best practice in pain management.
For GPs
- Case study – Taking action for acute low back pain
- Clinical case study – Chronic pain: Supporting patients to taper opioids
- Clinical case study – Osteoarthritis: practical tools for management
For pharmacists
- Clinical case study – Chronic pain: Supporting patients to taper opioids
For nurses
- Clinical case study – Taking action for acute low back pain
- Clinical case study – Osteoarthritis: practical tools for management
For more information...
Opioids, chronic pain and the bigger picture
Opioid medicines in chronic non-cancer pain – balancing opioid-related harm with effective pain management and quality of life.
Neuropathic pain
Accurate diagnosis is key to optimal management of this challenging condition.
Low back pain
Providing reassurance, encouraging activity and reducing reliance on imaging.
Opioids: New and amended PBS listings
Changes made to support the appropriate prescribing and use of opioids, and reduce harms.
Medicinal cannabis: what you need to know
Information and resources about medicinal cannabis for consumers and health professionals.
Choosing Wisely Australia
Choosing Wisely recommendations for opioids across different healthcare settings.