JAOA • Vol 107 • No suppl_7 • December 2007 • 3-
Improving Management of Pain
Frederick J. Goldstein, PhD, FCP
A member of the JAOA's Editorial Advisory Board since 1998, Dr
Goldstein is professor of clinical pharmacology and coordinator of
pharmacology in the Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology at
the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). He is also a clinical
research associate in the Department of Anesthesiology at Albert Einstein
Medical Center in Philadelphia and a lecturer in pharmacology at the
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
E-mail:
FREDG{at}pcom.edu
Despite outstanding educational efforts by many international organizations
devoted to improving pain management, not all patients receive adequate care.
One cause for under-treatment includes the unfounded fear by physicians who
order opioids that addiction to these important medications will automatically
develop in their patients who take them. Recently, primary care physicians
identified another issue—a need for more information when prescribing
opioids.1
The JAOA's current four-part supplement series is specifically
devoted to providing physicians with information on an extremely wide variety
of approaches designed to enhance analgesia. These approaches include surgical
procedures, osteopathic manipulative medicine, pharmacologic options, and
supportive care.
Members of the clergy, physicians, and medical scientists have contributed
to this updated pain management series. All four supplements have been revised
to include new evidence-based knowledge and continuing medical education
questions. Of special significance is that each article presents illustrative
cases that will enhance primary care physicians' understanding of various
approaches to treating not only patients who suffer, but also their devoted
families and friends who participate in such care. This last supplement in the
series features two new contributions by clergy members; they provide
excellent insight of terminal patients whose discomfort is not always due to
physical pain.
For the first time, the American Osteopathic Association is publishing
JAOA supplements only on-line. Providing information through this
electronic medium streamlines the production process and absolutely increases
distribution.
I laud the dedication to this project by our guest supplement editors Karen
J. Nichols, DO; Anthony H. Dekker, DO; Katherine E. Galluzzi, DO, and Gregory
H. Pharo, DO.
I thank Gilbert E. D'Alonzo, Jr, DO, AOA editor in chief; Michael
Fitzgerald, director of publications, and Karen Bjorkman Stipp, assistant
director of publications for JAOA, for helping me move this project
from development to final production. Others who contributed to refining and
enhancing this project include Leslie M. Huzyk, AOA creative director; Helen
Samonte-Shippy, publications coordinator; and Jane M. Reiling, production
manager.
I also appreciate the educational grant provided by Purdue Pharma LP, which
enabled the JAOA to provide this valuable series to all healthcare
professionals who wish to improve their knowledge of pain management and thus
offer their patients an improved quality of
life.
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Footnotes
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Dr Goldstein conducts clinical research designed to improve analgesia after
surgery and in patients with cancer.
Dr Goldstein has no conflicts of interest to disclose.
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References
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1. Clark LG, Upshur CC. Family medicine physicians' views of how to
improve chronic pain management, J Am Board Fam Med.2007; 20:479
-482.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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