Pain management training in undergraduate medical education

The pain curriculum in medical education across the globe is lacking, leaving medical trainees ill prepared to properly assess and design plans to address acute and chronic pain. Poorly managed pain has implications on the individual in the form of psychological, physical, and financial costs, and on the greater healthcare system and economy. Gaps in education have resulted in suboptimal opioid prescribing habits contributing to the current opioid epidemic, and the development of negative attitudes towards patients with chronic pain amongst healthcare providers. Studies researching existing pain education in undergraduate medical education in North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe have identified limited pain teaching, typically incorporated into other courses rather than given a designated place in the curriculum. Several barriers to improving the provision of pain education have been identified, including resource limitations and perceived importance in comparison to other content. Improving pain education in Canada should be a priority given recent updates to the Canadian Guideline for Opioid Therapy and Chronic Noncancer Pain which recommends a decrease to the maximum dose of morphine. Implementing these guidelines will require physicians to have the knowledge and ability to safely taper patients whose opioid doses exceed the upper limit. Enhancing pain education will require an interdisciplinary approach with students developing competence not only in the identification and appropriate management of pain, but learning the communication and motivational interviewing skills to display empathy and compassion when providing care to the chronic pain patient population