A learning and teaching resource on patient self-management of chronic pain

Objective: To develop, pilot test, and evaluate an instructional module on patient self-management for undergraduate pharmacy students in an Australian university. Design: Learning outcomes and associated content and assessment tasks were developed, featuring lecture and readings, in-class discussions, and online delivery of in-depth interviews with patients who were living with chronic pain. Assessment: Students completed a premodule and postmodule questionnaire and were further assessed by multiple-choice questions following completion of the module and again at the end of the semester. Positive changes were identified in the students' discourse surrounding patient self-management of chronic pain. Responses to multiple-choice questions showed that knowledge was sustained over the course of the semester. Conclusions: Completion of a comprehensive module on patient self-management increased undergraduate pharmacy students' understanding and knowledge of patients experiencing chronic pain. The module could be implemented across other healthcare disciplines.