Practice Assessment

1. Practice Assessment Subject: Pain Management Description: General Practice pain patient assessment and management with special reference to common myofascial pain syndromes: Improved diagnosis and management.

2. PracticeAssessment Topic Selection Was based on: 1. Epidemiology of Pain ( Brisbane) 2. Prevalence of Myofascial Pain Syndromes 3. Current usage rates for Pain Assessment Tools

3. PracticeAssessment Selection of Standards 1. NHMRC Working Party report, “The Management of Severe Pain” 2. IASP’s core curriculum for Professional Education in Pain. Both reports recommend medical education on: The measurement, quantification and recording of pain as well as for Neurostimulation Techniques including TNS and Acupuncture. The IASP’s report emphasis the need for Myofascial pain recognition diagnostic and treatment skills.

4. Practice Assessment Standards are? • That General Practice presenting/initial pain consults involve the use of Pain Assessment Tools including VAS, McGill Questionnaire and Pain Diagrams. • That specific myofascial pain syndrome identification is attempted, when present. • Where appropriate that Local Anaesthetic diagnostic blocks be used for confirmation • And that specific myofascial pain treatment be carried out in house.

5. Practice Assessment Evaluation Participating GP’s performance will be quantified by an audit form “ASSESSMENT SHEET” [developed in conjunction with the RACGP] that will be filled out for 10 or more presenting pain consultations.

6. Practice Assessment Evaluation After 3 months the participants will analyse their audit forms using the Practice Assessment “Data Score Table” and then send the Data Score Table for further analysis to MPE.

7. Practice Assessment Response? MPE’s evaluation of the groups “Data Score Tables” will give a “snapshot” of current pain related GP practice. This will be sent to each participant along with their individual evaluation. Thus allowing the participants to readily identify and compare their results with the groups average and modify their practice if needs be.

8. Practice Assessment Monitoring Stage 5 more points Those GP’s identified by MPE as “under-performing” will be re-surveyed several months after receiving their “audit evaluation”. This second - follow up evaluation will reveal if modifications towards the groups norm have occurred.(And will add another 5 points]

9. Practice Assessment What do you need to do? • 1. Fill out the audit form “Assessment Sheet” for 10 or more presenting (intial) pain related consultations • 2. Score your data after 3 months using the “Data Score Table” • 3. Send your Data Score Table to MPE for analysis • 4. Review MPE’s report • 5. If monitored repeat 1 - 3.

10. Practice Assessment What Medical Pain Education will do 1. Give each participant 10 copies of the “Assessment Sheet” 2. Give each participant one copy of the “Data score Table” 3. Collate the individuals and the groups audits 4. Send each participant a report showing the results of step 3. 5.Repeat step 1, 2 & 3 for those outside the norm 6. Maintain confidentiality

11. Practice Assessment Points!Points!Points!Points! 20 Points for stage one plus another 5 points following the monitoring stage

12. Summary of Requirements Total Points required Practice Assessment Cont. Medical Education Professional Development 1996 1997 1998 130 over three years 20 minimum over 3 years 20 minimum each year Up to 50 no minimum RACGP QA&CE Program Requirements 1996 - 1998

13. Practice Assessment Points to Remember. By attending one of MPE’sPain Management courses you will have gained:102-108 Cont. Medical Education points. By participating in the Practice Assessment module you will gain 20 - 25 Practice Assessment points.

14. Practice Assessment What do you need to do? • 1. Fill out the audit form “Assessment Sheet” for each presenting (intial) pain related consultation • 2. Score your data after 3 months using the “Data Score Table” • 3. Send your forms to MPE for analysis • 4. Review MPE’s report • 5. If monitored repeat 1 - 3.

15. Practice Assessment The results of the above process for two types of educational activity can be found on the seminars page