Approaches to Pain Assessment

This module provides an introduction to pain in the context of dementia and aims to help health professionals recognise the links between the experience of pain and the presence of responsive behaviour.

This module is part of the course(s):
Suitable for people working in:
Acute Care
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Online Module

  • Tier
    Foundational
  • Module 6
  • Completion time
    1 hr
  • Module duration
    1 week
  • Certificate of completion
  • Cost
    Free for Australian workers

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Module Overview

About this Module

This is lesson 6 of the course: The View from Here, Skills in Dementia Care for Acute Settings, which encourages health professionals to understand the acute care experience from the viewpoint of a person living with dementia. 

In this lesson we explore some examples of how pain may be expressed and the challenges in assessing pain in a person with dementia in the acute care setting. You will learn about the hierarchy of pain assessment techniques and the use of a number of pain assessment tools. We also unpack the relationship between pain and responsive behaviours

Prerequisites

Before undertaking this module you will need to complete the following:

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, staff should be able to:

  • Identify the various mechanisms by which pain can be expressed, and the hierarchy of pain assessment.
  • Recognise that regular pain assessment is vital to the management of changed behaviours.
  • Use formal tools to identify and record pain levels.

Module Details

Continuing Professional Development

This module is part of the course: The View From Here - Acute Care. For CPD information relating to this module specifically, please refer to the course overview.

Acknowledgements

The View from Here was developed by:

  • Frederick Graham, Metro South Health
  • Sandra Jeavons, Elizabeth Miles and Prof Elizabeth Beattie, Dementia Training Australia, QUT

It is based on a face-to-face education program of the same name previously developed by Queensland Dementia Training Study Centre.

The View from Here has been reviewed by clinicians and academics with expertise in dementia care in acute care settings, delirium management and learning design.

The View from Here was developed with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health.

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Version history

  • Published: 29 Oct 2019
  • Updated: 30 Jan 2025
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