Abstract
There is an ongoing evolution in the understanding of pain biology and its underlying mechanisms. Healthcare professional education and preparation must adapt to continue to provide effective management of individuals experiencing pain. PURPOSE: A review of current studies in pain education and preparation across healthcare professions was performed. This scoping review will be part of a larger study assessing the state of pain preparation in the field of physical therapy. METHODS: A scoping review of articles discussing pain education and preparation of healthcare professions, including dentistry (2), medicine (8), nursing (7), occupational safety and health (1), occupational and physical therapy (2), and physician assistants (3), was performed within PubMed. Twenty-three articles were analyzed, and study conclusions were categorized. RESULTS: Three emerging themes that affect the pain preparation of healthcare professionals were identified, including: the level of academic preparation, educational hours spent including additional postgraduate training and certification, and clinical experience. CONCLUSION: This review suggests that common underlying themes affect the preparation and education of healthcare professionals toward effective management of individuals experiencing pain. Despite the heterogeneity of conclusions in the included studies, three emerging themes were observed. These themes will be utilized as benchmarks in a larger mixed methods study assessing pain education and preparation of physical therapists working with individuals experiencing pain.
Recommended Citation
Baloy, Rodiel Kirby II
(2024)
"Pain Education and Preparation Across Health Care Professions: A Scoping Review,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14:
Iss.
4, Article 42.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss4/42
Included in
Health and Physical Education Commons, Medical Education Commons, Sports Sciences Commons