ABSTRACT

In many institutions, acute pain services will play a key role in the delivery of acute pain management, especially when more complex analgesic techniques are involved and when management involves more complex patients. Education of junior medical staff should include all aspects of the management of acute pain. Responsibility for more conventional methods of analgesia is often delegated to these junior staff and while they will not be directly responsible for the more advanced methods of pain relief, they must have a sound working knowledge of them. Evidence for the benefit of patient education in terms of better pain relief is inconsistent, although patient satisfaction is likely to be increased and anxiety decreased. Patients should know why effective analgesia is important for their recovery as well as their comfort. The benefits of physiotherapy and early mobilization should be explained and that pain relief with movement is a key aim.