February 2007 E-Newsletter

Register for the ASPI Annual Meeting in Boston, June 21 - 23

April 3, 2007"20" hspace="2" vspace="2" border="0" />New ASPI Resource Targets Pain In Cognitively Impaired

Interactive Videoconference on Persistent Pain Offered By VCPI

American Cancer Society Focuses on Pain

Many in U.S. Work Despite Persistent Pain

Website Helps Get Palliative Care

REGISTER FOR THE ASPI ANNUAL MEETING IN BOSTON, JUNE 21 - 23

Registration is now open for the 18th Annual meeting of the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives to be held in Boston from June 21 to 23, 2007. Visit the ASPI's website at www.aspi.wisc.edu for registration information and meeting details. Remember to register by May 1 and take advantage of the early bird rate!

NEW ASPI RESOURCE TARGETS PAIN IN COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED

The Alliance of State Pain Initiatives is pleased to announce the release of a new educational tool, Detecting Discomfort in Dementia: Focus on Behaviors - What Nursing Assistants Need to Know About Pain. The educational video is designed to teach nursing assistants how to identify the behaviors that cognitively impaired residents may show when they are in pain or discomfort, and to understand the ways they can help cognitively impaired residents get relief of their pain or discomfort. An accompanying booklet "Tools for In-Service Education" contains a discussion guide, role play, and knowledge test, as well as suggestions for how to introduce the video and adapt it for education geared toward culture change. Filmed at several long-term care facilities the video provides real-life examples of residents' discomfort behaviors and effective interventions to provide comfort. The video is available in VHS or DVD format at a very modest price of $49.99. To order the video, visit the ASPI's online Resource Center at www.trc.wisc.edu or call 608-262-0978.

INTERACTIVE VIDEOCONFERENCE ON PERSISTENT PAIN OFFERED BY VCPI

The Virginia Cancer Pain Initiative (VCPI) is offering a free, live, interactive videoconference for health care professionals on the pharmacologic management of persistent pain in adults. The conference will be offered on March 23, April 13 and May 18, and will be available for viewing in Virginia and in limited areas of West Virginia and North Carolina. Persons interested in attending or being a host site should contact Laura Pole at Lpchef@earthlink.net or call (540) 529-5395.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY FOCUSES ON PAIN

Each year, the American Cancer Society's cancer statistics publication, Cancer Facts & Figures, features a Special Section highlighting a particular aspect of cancer prevention, early detection or treatment. In 2007, the special section looks at cancer-related pain, describing types of pain and methods of pain assessment and treatment. It also addresses the issue of under treatment of cancer pain as well as educational and legislative initiatives to ensure that all cancer patients receive adequate pain control. The full report can be viewed at www.cancer.org/statistics.
The Society also offers an I Can Cope online class on "Relieving Cancer Pain" to help educate cancer survivors and caregivers. This online tool discusses the facts about cancer pain, types of pain, and questions that survivors can ask their doctors. Participants will learn that treatments are available today to manage and greatly ease most pain, so that people with pain need not suffer. Information on managing pain with medicine and nonmedical treatments, developing a pain control plan with a doctor, and tips for caregivers is provided. The online class is available on ACS's web site at www.cancer.org/onlineclasses.

MANY IN U.S. WORK DESPITE PERSISTENT PAIN

According to a 2006 national survey conducted by Harris Interactive and sponsored by PriCara, a unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc, and in partnership with the National Pain Foundation, persistent, chronic pain has risen dramatically among full-time U.S. workers in the past 10 years. The survey was an update to the 1996 Louis Harris & Associates poll on the subject, sponsored by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. Chronic pain, defined in the survey as pain that lasts for at least six months, was more common in the workplace in 2006 than it was in 1996 (26 percent vs. 19 percent). Almost nine in 10 employees with chronic pain typically go to work rather than stay home when experiencing chronic pain, the survey found. For more information about the survey's findings go to www.painandwork.com.

WEBSITE HELPS GET PALLIATIVE CARE

The Center to Advance Palliative Care announced a new web resource, www.getpalliativecare.org. This new website provides comprehensive palliative care information to patients and families coping with serious, complex illness.

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Contact Us: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Rm 4720 1300 University Ave Madison, WI 53706 Phone: (608) 265-4013 Fax: (608) 265-4014 aspi@mailplus.wisc.edu