It’s a bloody awful choice of headline from CBC…
Why pain education is linked to B.C’.s fentanyl crisis
I read this and immediately thought that the suggestion was patients who had been learning about pain were turning to fentanyl…
My initial reaction
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ8cjlEMLR0&w=560&h=315]
But, a short way into shredding everything, I thought I’d better read more. What follows fits the narrative arc that is, sadly, all too common –
But one of the root causes [of British Columbia’s overdose crisis], believe some, is the complex relationship between prescription drugs, chronic pain management and the education of doctors.
“Physicians aren’t getting the proper kind of education in using these drugs. That’s a dangerous combination when you’ve got doctors learning about prescribing opioids from their colleagues in the field.”
The most exhaustive research into Canadian universities came in 2009, and found that only one-third of health science programs could identity specific hours designated for pain education — and that veterinary students received five times more training than medical students.”
(emphasis added)
Here’s another fact, we’ve had more enquiries from vets about NOI courses this year than GPs.
Updating the lede
Here’s how the article should’ve read
Why poor pain education is linked to B.C.’s fentanyl crisis
Your pets are getting better pain treatment than you
Canadians, the second highest per capita consumers of prescriptions opioids are being prescribed killer drugs by doctors who receive five times less pain management training than your local vet…
You can have that for free CBC
-Tim Cocks
Melbourne, 31 March – 2 April EP + GMI
Adelaide, 26-28 May EP + GMI
Wollongong, 14-16 July EP + GMI
Darwin, 4-6 August EP + GMI
Brisbane, 25-27 August EP + GMI
Newcastle, 8-10 September EP + GMI
But Tim, animals can’t talk. Narratives are far more powerful than any so called “facts.” It stands to reason that opioids have been prescribed more than education – payment for the latter is iffy.
Hi Barrett, I’m not sure that’s what the message is here?? Isn’t this about the pain education (not) received by the health professionals and possible link to the prescription of opioids?
Tim, The point is that everyone on this list gets far less education in pain management than those examining and treating those who don’t actually speak. I assume the education (such as it is) follows suit. In most places, professionals are just to follow the physician’s lead.
I’m not sure it’s right to assume here. This is surely about the education received rather than the assumed education subsequently given to that professionals patients
For interests sake, I am a physio in Canada who has taken the 1 1/2 year pain certificate mentioned in the full article.
By the end of the the program, there was only one doctor left. The rest had quit.
But the program gives you the knowledge to more effectively advocate for your patients with the docs, as well as better care for your patients. It was a worthwhile investment of time.