On completion of this module you should be able to:

Module 1 – Recognising chronic pain

• Describe the different types of pain including acute and chronic pain.
• Explain chronic pain in terms that community members will understand.
• Acknowledge cultural experiences of pain within the social and emotional wellbeing model.

Module 2 – How to help chronic pain

• List non-medicine treatments for managing chronic pain.
• Apply different ways to talk with and support people who are experiencing chronic pain.
• Identify local allied health services qualified to support chronic pain management.

Module 3 – Medicines and chronic pain

• Recognise common medicines used for acute and chronic pain, how they work and the risks of overuse.
• Discuss in simple terms why opioids are sometimes used for a short period to manage chronic pain.
• Explain opioid side effects and risks, tolerance and withdrawal.
• Describe why opioids are only used in the short term, and their need to be tapered gradually and stopped.
• Describe where to find further information about medicines.