Assessor
PGY4+
Due
Week 7
Requirement
Optional
What Assessors Look For
•Systematic pain assessment
•Understanding of pain types (nociceptive, neuropathic)
•Multimodal analgesia approach
•Safe opioid prescribing
•Recognition and management of side effects
Key Points to Demonstrate
1Assessment: location, character, severity (0-10), timing, aggravating/relieving factors
2WHO pain ladder: paracetamol → weak opioid → strong opioid (but multimodal better)
3Multimodal: paracetamol + NSAID (if appropriate) + opioid PRN
4Opioid equivalence: oral morphine 10mg = oxycodone 7.5mg = IV morphine 3-5mg
5Side effects: nausea, constipation, sedation, respiratory depression
6Special populations: renal impairment, elderly, opioid-naive vs tolerant
Tips for Success
- 💡Always ask about allergies and previous pain medications
- 💡Start low, go slow - especially in elderly and renal impairment
- 💡Prescribe anti-emetics and laxatives with opioids