Individualised chronic pain management plans

Every patient with chronic pain should have an individualised pain management plan with goals and interventions targeted to factors contributing to the pain experience identified in the patient’s assessment. For example, if the patient has expressed fear about their pain during assessment then targeted reassurance should be included in the management plan to address those concerns.

Healthcare providers must consider components of the multidimensional approach to develop management plans in collaboration with the patient (and the parents/carers of paediatric patients). It is important to discuss the likelihood of benefit and harm of any proposed intervention for chronic pain and how this can be measured. Strategies for managing flares (ie exacerbations of chronic pain unrelated to new injury or condition) should also be included in the plan.

Healthcare providers should assess the patient for motivation, capability (physically and psychologically), and opportunity (eg social and physical environment) to implement the plan. These factors, in addition to practitioner strategies and societal influences, affect whether the patient is likely to achieve treatment goals and maintain long-lasting functional improvements through positive behaviour changes¹.

Templates to summarise chronic pain management plans for patients are available from:

• the Hunter Integrated Pain Service website
• the Agency for Clinical Innovation website.