Pain and Pharmacology

Most osteopathic patients will be taking or have taken painkillers - less than half safely and appropriately. Most will have unanswered questions about affects, side effects and safe usage.

This course will give delegates the opportunity to increase their knowledge and confidence of pharmacology and pain control medication. The course will discuss assessing and treating patients with poorly controlled pain, with advice and education on safe and effective pain control medication selection. 

Using evidenced based practice, the course will also challenge common dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes to medications.

 

Summary of Osteopathic Practice Standards (updated) covered in this course

A Communication and patient partnership - A1, A2, A3, A5

B Knowledge, skills and performance - B1, B2, B3

D Professionalism - D10

 

Learning outcomes

 

• Understand the differences regarding training and medicolegal framework between i) advising, ii) supply and administration under patient group directions (PGD) and iii) prescribing medication
• Understand the main principles and considerations when advising patients regarding their use of medications within the scope of professional practice
• Understand the basic principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and how they relate to adverse drug interactions and therapeutics 
• Identify the main groups of pain control medication and the difference legal implications of i) over the counter (OTC) ii) prescription only medications (POM) iii) controlled drugs (CD), iv) off licensed usage and v) unlicensed usage
• Increase awareness of issues relating to pharmaceutical studies and interpretation of research
• Improve awareness of issues relating to patient compliance and concordance with pain medications and understand the principles of the potential role of musculoskeletal  practitioners to improve effectiveness and safety of pharmaceutical use through communication with patients

Timetable

Registration from 08.45am

09:00-10:00 Medico-legal framework

10:00-11:00 Introduction to key principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

11:00-12:00 Adverse Drug Reactions

12:00-12:45 Drug interactions

12:45-13:30 Lunch

13:30-16:00 Pain Medications – Paracetamol, NSAIDs, Opioids, Atypicals

16:00-17:00 Improving compliance and concordance

Please note that there will be a short morning and afternoon coffee break during the day.

 

Course suitability

The course is suitable for all musculoskeletal practitioners. 

 

About the course leader

David Baker qualified as a physiotherapist in 1999. Having specialised in musculoskeletal (MSK) care David developed an interest in pharmacology and analgesia whilst working between a busy A&E department and a chronic MSK pain clinic. David qualified as a supplementary prescriber in 2008, and following this he was seconded part-time too City University, London, lecturing in topics including pharmacology of analgesics, non-medical prescribing and medicines management. David has also works free-lance, lecturing extensively around the UK since 2010, on a number of bespoke courses relating to analgesic medications, injectable substances and medicines management issues for physiotherapists and MSK practitioners. He works as external examiner on non-medical prescribing programmes.

David was individually recognised by the Department of Health in 2012 for his contribution in developing the scope of physiotherapy practice in relation to independent prescribing and also represented the physiotherapy profession in the national media as part of this work. David presented at Physiotherapy Congress 2010 and 2015 on the development of physiotherapy-led prescribing clinics in primary care and won a Service Innovation award for the development of physiotherapy led specialist pain clinics at City & Hackney PCT in 2011. David recently represented the physiotherapy profession for the review process of the 'Competency Framework for All Prescribers' published in 2016. He continues to work closely with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) as a clinical based advisor regarding non-medical prescribing on further projects regarding scope of practice and advice documents to CSP members. David recently began a 3-year appointment as specialist advisor to NICE on their interventional procedures programme.

David was one of the first physiotherapists to use his prescribing skills both in the NHS and in private practice. David is clinical director of Complete Physio Ltd, a chain of multidisciplinary MSK clinics in the centre of London.

David is also Chairman of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists with an interest in Orthopaedic Medicine and Injection Therapy (ACPOMIT) professional network, and also has a specialist interest in ultrasound guided injections, being one of the few physiotherapists in the country to also be dual qualified as an MSK sonographer. He is a regular contributor and member of teaching faculty for ‘The Ultrasound Site’. He regularly lecturers and is an examiner on the University of East London Musculoskeletal Ultrasound MSc programme.

 

What have previous delegates said about the course?

• "Really good speaker who enjoys his area of knowledge"
• "Very impressed by training, delivery and depth of knowledge"
   

Cancellation policy

The UCO regrets that no refunds can be made for cancelled places unless a substitute participant can be found. The UCO cannot guarantee that any course will run. In the event of your course being cancelled, all paid fees and deposits will be refunded in full.