Integrative pediatric pain management: Impact & implications of a novel interdisciplinary curriculum

Objectives: Objectives of this paper are to: 1) Describe a novel interdisciplinary, integrative pain curriculum for pediatric residents. 2) Describe changes in residents' understanding of pain epidemiology, physiology, and management; application of the biopsychosocial model in pain management; and understanding and application of non-pharmacologic approaches to pain management. Design, setting: This study was done in a pediatric residency program within an urban pediatric teaching hospital. It employed both anonymous, Likert-scale surveys administered via Qualtrics, as well as open-ended, free response questions. Interventions: We provided a multidisciplinary pain education curriculum to pediatric residents with a focus on pain neuroscience, a history of pain management, the biopsychosocial model of care, and exposure to nonpharmacologic interventions to pain management over six hours of instruction conducted in two blocks of three hours each. Outcome measures: Self-identified changes via survey measuring resident physician knowledge, comfort, approach, and management of pediatric pain through an interdisciplinary pain curriculum. Results: Prior to this training, many residents were not confident in their understanding of pain neuroscience, the biopsychosocial model of care, and non-pharmacologic interventions. At completion of training, residents indicated positive changes in knowledge of, and comfort with, all of the domains taught. Ninety percent of residents indicated that the curriculum changed the way they conceptualized, approached, and/or managed pain, and reported thinking more holistically about pain management. Nearly all residents indicated they would like to have more training (98 %, N = 57) in integrative modalities. Conclusions: Pediatric resident physicians are receptive to training in an interdisciplinary, integrative, pediatric pain management education intervention, and subsequently show positive changes in knowledge and comfort levels. There is a need and desire for additional pain education in resident training programs.

Automated summary

This study describes an interdisciplinary, integrative pain curriculum for pediatric residents, showing positive changes in understanding of pain neuroscience, the biopsychosocial model, and non-pharmacologic interventions post-training. Residents expressed a strong desire for more training in holistic pain management.