The role of multidisciplinary pain services in chronic pain management
Multidisciplinary pain services are designed to assist healthcare providers to manage complex patients with chronic pain, where there is complexity or lack of progress with GP-based care. Consider referral to multidisciplinary pain services for patients with psychological distress, low physical activity, vocational impact (including paediatric patients missing school), refractory sleep interference, pharmacological complexity.
All chronic pain management programs aim to improve patient function and quality of life, and reduce pain if possible. Not all chronic pain management programs are the same. The best combination of management strategies and delivery method is influenced by pain complexity, local expertise and program availability. Programs can be:
- group-based or individually-tailored
- inpatient or outpatient
- part-time (conducted over several weeks to months) or concentrated into a 2- to 3-week period
- inclusive of strategies that remove reliance on medications or passive strategies
- age specific (eg for older people).
Ensure children and young people up to the age of 16 years are referred to a paediatric multidisciplinary pain service1. Paediatric multidisciplinary team members apply family-centred care principles and individualised programs, tailored to the young person’s developmental stage and social interests. Some paediatric pain services offer small group programs for adolescents.
See the Agency for Clinical Innovation Chronic pain resources for information on selecting pain management programs for patients.
Different patients may be suited to different types of chronic pain management programs. If unsure, contact the multidisciplinary pain service coordinator for information and advice.