National Pain Awareness Week: A Sensitive Time to Examine Pain

TORONTO, Nov. 8 /CNW/ - With Public Health Units across the country currently offering influenza vaccines, research shows many Canadians may not seek immunization for possible fear of needle pain.  Although immunization injections are the most common painful medical procedure, pain-relieving practices are not commonly used.^ⅰ  It is estimated that up to 25 per cent of adults have a considerable fear of needles^ⅱ.  This needle pain concern is one of the reasons for low vaccine uptake^ⅲ with research further suggesting that only a few healthcare professionals and patients are knowledgeable about any form of pain-relieving interventions when receiving a needle or vaccine.^ⅳ 

This week, November 8-12, marks National Pain Awareness Week - a public awareness effort to address a public health crisis.  As part of an international effort, the Canadian Pain Society (CPS) and Canadian Pain Coalition (CPC) are drawing attention to the persistent problem of acute pain, the most commonly experienced pain.  National Pain Awareness Week is one of several activities planned to support a global yearlong campaign designed to raise awareness of acute pain worldwide. www.iasp-pain.org

Acute pain affects millions of Canadians on a daily basis.  Statistics Canada estimates that 10 per cent of men (1.4 million) and 15 per cent of women (more than 2 million) over the age of 12 report pain or discomfort that prevents daily activities.^ⅴ  Surgery, injury, childbirth, acute illness and flu shots are just some examples of acute pain caused by damage to a variety of tissues.

"Managing acute pain associated with vaccine injections is important because it has the potential to improve satisfaction with the immunization experience and vaccination uptake," said Dr. Anna Taddio, associate professor at the University of Toronto, adjunct scientist and clinical pharmacist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and member of the CPS.  "Research shows there are steps parents and health care professionals can take to reduce the pain and distress experienced by children during immunization.^ⅵ  Most interventions do not require additional time or money and can be easily incorporated in clinical practice." 

To champion pain awareness and highlight the gaps between what is known and what is practised in the treatment of all kinds of pain in Canada, the CPC has distributed NPAW posters to health facilities and clinics across Canada.  The CPC and the CPS are also sending pain information packages to provincial and federal Members of Parliament in November. The CPC has also developed a free 30 second public service announcement (PSA) available to anyone interested in promoting pain awareness. More information and NPAW posters are available for download from www.canadianpaincoalition.ca.

"One in five Canadians suffers from daily pain that is often unmanageable.  It is critical that we increase public awareness of pain education and treatment to ensure those who experience legitimate pain are receiving the care and quality of life they deserve," says Lynn Cooper, president of the CPC.

Recognizing that the work to help Canadians manage pain is a long term effort, that requires the involvement of a wide variety of stakeholders, the first-ever Canadian Pain Strategy will be written leading up to the Canadian Pain Summit that will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, in April 2012. Hosted by the CPS and the CPC, along with their partner organizations, up to 300 delegates are expected to participate in the process, where all stakeholders - consumers, care givers and health professionals, along with educators, provincial, territorial and the federal government representatives, business and not-for-profit groups - will be able to provide valuable input to the Canadian Pain Strategy. "Given the magnitude and scope of the problem of undertreated pain in Canada, a national strategy along with an associated Summit is the best way to address the public health crisis that is squeezing our country," said Dr. Mary Lynch, president of the CPS.

Interview opportunities
National, provincial and local members of the CPS and the CPC are available for interviews throughout National Pain Awareness Week.  

Immunization pain
Additional information regarding vaccine pain reduction can be found at www.aboutkidshealth.ca.

About the Canadian Pain Society (www.canadianpainsociety.ca)
The Canadian Pain Society has been a chapter of the International Association for the Study of Pain since 1982. The aim of the CPS is to foster and encourage research on pain mechanisms and pain syndromes and to help improve the management of patients with acute and chronic pain by bringing together the basic scientists and health professionals of various disciplines and backgrounds who have an interest in pain research and management.

About the Canadian Pain Coalition (www.canadianpaincoalition.ca)
The Canadian Pain Coalition (CPC) is THE National Voice of People with Pain. Incorporated in 2004 as a non-profit organization, the CPC is a partnership of pain consumer groups, individuals, health professionals who care for people in pain and scientists studying better ways to treat pain. CPC promotes sustained improvement in the understanding, prevention, treatment and management of all types of pain in Canada. CPC accomplishes this through pain education, awareness activities and advocacy initiatives. CPC obtained the Senate Declaration of National Pain Awareness Week in 2004.

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^ⅰ A randomized controlled trial of analgesia during vaccination in adults. A. Taddio et al. / Vaccine 28 (2010) 5365-5369
^ⅱ Guideline statement: management of procedure-related pain in children and adolescents. J Paediatr Child Health 2006;41(Suppl. 1):S1-29.
^ⅲ A randomized controlled trial of analgesia during vaccination in adults. A. Taddio et al. / Vaccine 28 (2010) 5365-5369
^ⅳ ⅣTaddio A, Manley J, Potash L, Ipp M, Sgro M, Shah V. Routine immunization practices: use of topical anesthetics and oral analgesics. Pediatrics 2007;120(3):e637-43.
^ⅴ Pain or discomfort that prevents activities. Statistics Canada.  http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-229-x/2009001/status/pdl-eng.htm
^ⅵ Psychological Interventions for Reducing Pain and Distress During Routine Childhood Immunizations: A Systemic Review. C. T. Chambers et al. /Clinical Therapeutics 31 (2009) S77-S103

For further information:

or to schedule an interview:
Rob McEwan
Argyle Communications
416-968-7311 - [email protected]