A task force of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has developed a classification of chronic pain for the ICD-11 consisting of seven major categories. It was tested whether the proposed categories were exhaustive and mutually exclusive. In addition, the perceived utility of the diagnoses and the raters’ subjective diagnostic certainty were to be assessed. Five independent pain centers in three continents coded 507 consecutive patients. The raters received the definitions for the main diagnostic categories of the proposed classification and were asked to allocate diagnostic categories to each patient. In addition, they were asked to indicate how useful they judged the diagnosis to be from 0 (not at all) to 3 (completely) and how confident they were in their category allocation. The categories proved exhaustive with few cases being classified as unspecified chronic pain, and they showed themselves to be mutually exclusive. The categories were regarded as useful with particularly high ratings for the newly introduced categories (chronic cancer-related pain among others). The confidence in allocating the diagnoses was good although no training regarding the ICD-11 categories had been possible at this stage of the development.

Pilot field testing of the chronic pain classification for I…

A task force of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has developed a classification of chronic pain for the ICD-11 consisting of…

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This first Vienna Pain Report looks at the issue of chronic pain in all its complexity. In order to do so, the highly complicated and multi-faceted phenomenon of pain must be seen in a broad context and from many different perspectives, particularly including the perspective of pain patients. Compared to other chronic illnesses, relatively little attention has been given by the Austrian health-care system to chronic pain. Austria’s pain management landscape is characterised by a lack of standardised care concepts and insufficient treatment options. For this reason, Vienna has set itself the task of sustainably improving pain management services as one of the targets of Austria’s health-care reform to be achieved at provincial level. The present report is based on different sources of quantitative and qualitative information: Results of national and international surveys, partly complemented by our own analyses, contents of studies and scientific work on the issue of pain, case studies from therapeutic practice, interviews with pain patients and patient letters sent to the “Allianz chronischer Schmerz Österreich” platform of self-help groups have been equally taken into account in order to cover as wide a spectrum of pain issues as possible.  The following topics have been included in the report: Epidemiology Causes and risk factors Gender-related and cultural aspects of pain Living with pain Pain therapy and pain management Socioeconomic consequences and health policy challenges As a final conclusion from the report a change is needed: "A reform of pain care involving all system partners concerned would need to start at the training level, but would simultaneously also have to cover medical treatment and therapy as well as rehabilitation. However, most importantly, this discussion has to involve representatives of at-risk groups and chronic pain patients in order to strengthen their health literacy."

Vienna Pain Report 2018

This first Vienna Pain Report looks at the issue of chronic pain in all its complexity. In order to do so, the highly complicated and multi-faceted ph…

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This year, the German Pain Society is once again honouring young scientists with the funding prize for pain research, which has been donated by Grünenthal GmbH since 1987. The prize will support work in the field of application-related research and implemented basic research, which has made a significant contribution to the interdisciplinary practical therapy of acute and chronic pain. The prize is mostly aimed at young scientists from the fields of medicine, psychology and natural sciences. First and second prize will be awarded in the following categories:• Clinical research:For work in clinical, medical and/or psychological studies on the diagnosis and treatment of pain patients.• Basic research:For experimental work based on problems of pathogenesis und/or pharmacological research in etiology, diagnosis and therapy of pain. The deadline for entries is 31 May 2019 and the award ceremony will be held at the German Pain Congress of The German Pain Society, which will take place from 9 to 12 October 2019 in Mannheim. Find more Information or send your application here.

Funding Award for Pain Research 2019

This year, the German Pain Society is once again honouring young scientists with the funding prize for pain research, which has been donated by Grünen…

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On December 11th, SIP Spain arranged this important event with more than 70 representatives of different stakeholder Groups in the Spanish Ministry of Health.  Another great example how national SIP platforms are following the strategy of SIP international and addressing the impact that pain to policy makers.

SIP Spain Meeting in the Spanish Ministry of Health

On December 11th, SIP Spain arranged this important event with more than 70 representatives of different stakeholder Groups in the Spanish Ministry of…

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On the 11th of December SIP Portugal met in Lisbon to discuss their mission and objectives and to launch officially another another SIP National platform. The meeting started with Dr. Ana Pedro from APED, also Chair of SIP Portugal, by approving the objectives of SIP PT. Their mission will be to decrease the societal impact of pain in Portugal by bringing together science & society, whereas the objectives are to: Unite all Portuguese organisations and societies advocating for better pain care in order to jointly define and foster pain care policies Ensure access to adequate pain treatment for all Portuguese citizens Decrease the stigma of pain as an invisible disease Promote more research into pain Foster prevention measures in order to decrease the number of people affected by pain Next steps will include writing a Position Paper to outline the burden that pain has on Portuguese society as well as the scope of actions for SIP PT. With this document it will be more efficient to approach relevant stakeholders and it will be finalized with the input of all Platform Members by the end of January 2019. The key meeting next year will take place as part of the National Day of Fight Against Pain on November 18, 2019. Next meeting of the Platform for the Social Impact of Pain in Portugal scheduled for February 4, 2019. Please read the complete official report from the meeting of SIP Portugal.

SIP Portugal Meeting to define Mission and Objectives

On the 11th of December SIP Portugal met in Lisbon to discuss their mission and objectives and to launch officially another another SIP National platf…

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The European Pain Federation EFIC is holding the second sitting of the Examination for the European Diploma in Pain Physiotherapy. The Examination will take place on the 13th April 2019 in Leuven, Belgium. Registration is now open. Physiotherapists do not have many options to bolster their qualifications past their basic training. The European Pain Federation EFIC offer a qualification for physiotherapists to demonstrate an advanced knowledge of pain conditions and how to manage them.  The European Diploma in Pain Physiotherapy (EDPP) will enable you to stand out from your peers and a show a level of competence that goes beyond the average physiotherapist. Further information on the EDPP can be found here. Click here to register for the EDPP.

Examination for the European Diploma in Pain Physioteraphy

The European Pain Federation EFIC is holding the second sitting of the Examination for the European Diploma in Pain Physiotherapy. The Examination wil…

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The European Pain Federation EFIC is holding the third sitting of the Examination for the European Diploma in Pain Medicine. The Examination will take place on the 12th and 13th April 2019 in Leuven, Belgium Registration is now open. *** European Diploma in Pain Medicine Education Support Bursary Bursaries will be provided to 30 Examination participants. Bursary recipients will be chosen on the basis of: Age and career stage, with a focus on early-to-mid career professionals Geographical distribution, with the aim to encourage participation from the widest range of countries possible, and to encourage participation from lower income countries. Applicants from EFIC chapters will be prioritised. Applicants are asked to register before the 10th February and pay the full registration fee. Bursaries, covering the cost of the registration fee, will be distributed 2 months’ before the date of the Examination; before the 15th February 2019. The European Diploma in Pain Medicine Education Support Bursary is provided through the kind support of Grünenthal GmbH. Further information on the EDPM can be found here. Click here to register for the EDPM

Examination for the European Diploma in Pain Medicine – Appl…

The European Pain Federation EFIC is holding the third sitting of the Examination for the European Diploma in Pain Medicine. The Examination will take…

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EFIC launched its new website with a modern look and feel with a stronger focus on constant updated about and for our community of health care professional in Europe. The address will remain the same though, so have a look at our you can still find us at europeapainfederation.eu

New EFIC’s website

EFIC launched its new website with a modern look and feel with a stronger focus on constant updated about and for our community of health care profess…

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One of the main “fights” Pain Alliance Europe (PAE) is leading is for the pain patient to be heard, believed and understood. The most recent survey developed by Pain Alliance Europe is a concrete action to contribute to the change of perception society holds regarding the patients affected by chronic pain. The 2019 Survey edition attempts to define better, through the eye of patients, the perceptions and manifestations of stigma related to chronic pain, in order to raise awareness of the burden it represents. We hope the results will help all of us be more mindful and reduce our own contribution to this burden. The survey is translated in 14 languages and will be open until the 1st of March, 2019. PAE calls on peer organisations and patients concerned with pain to contribute to the dissemination of the survey, sharing the most appropriate of the Survey’s translations below to anyone concerned who would like to share this aspect of their journey of dealing with pain. You can take the Survey here!

Launch of a new Survey on Stigma related to Chronic Pain

One of the main “fights” Pain Alliance Europe (PAE) is leading is for the pain patient to be heard, believed and understood. The most recent surv…

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The MEP Interest Group on Brain, Mind, and Pain organised on the 21st of November a new meeting in the EU Parliament hosted by MEP Merja Kyllönen and MEP Marian Harkin, in order to review the achievements of the group and to propose the policy focus areas for 2019. As the representatives of SIP, we were invited to the discussion whose main topic was "The Future of Health in Europe". We presented the Joint Statement on the Societal Impact of Pain, highlighting the recommendations the document contains but also inviting the participants to endorse and use the joint statement as a tool in their organisations' advocacy activities. We are convinced the Joint Statement on SIP is a valuable, to-date collection of policy and good practices in chronic pain which points out to the gaps that need to be addressed by the decision-makers who are responsible for putting health - and pain in particular, on their agenda. If you did not get the chance to read or endorse the SIP Joint Statement and the Framing paper, there is still time to do so, endorsements' period is open until the 25th January 2019. To endorse, send us your logo and confirmation by email to Vittoria Carraro - vittoria.carraro@efic.org or Anca Pop - a.pop@pae-eu.eu. We invite you to consult the documents using the links attached to this article. For further information on events we participate in, and on how to use the JoInt Statement within your organisation, please visit the SIP website www.sip-platform.com or contact us using any of the above-mentioned emails.  Join your name to the 42 organisations that already endorsed the Joint Statement on the Societal Impact of Pain!

SIP Joint Statement presented in the EU Parliament

The MEP Interest Group on Brain, Mind, and Pain organised on the 21st of November a new meeting in the EU Parliament hosted by MEP Merja Kyllönen and …

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