PAIN RELIEF CONSULTATIONS

To identify if we can effectively and appropriately manage pain in pharmacy it is important to establish the duration and frequency of someone's pain.

Pain can be classified as acute, chronic and recurring. To identify what type of pain your customer has you can use the following questions:

• 1. When did the pain start?
• 2. How often have you experienced this type of pain?
• 3. What have you used in the past to manage this type of pain?

To find the right level of pain relief for a customer or patient we must first understand, from their perception, the severity of their pain. A helpful tool to establish this is to ask them to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 being the worst pain imaginable)

To responsibly recommend the right level of pain relief it helps to understand what interventions the customer has already made to manage their pain. You can ask:

• 1. What medication have you tried to help manage your pain?
• 2. Have you tried any non-pharmaceutical methods to manage your pain, e.g. ice, heat, exercise, rest?
• 3. What other medication are you currently taking, e.g. prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines?

The more information you have about the customer, the more likely you are to help them find the right level of pain relief.
Even if a customer self-selects an OTC painkiller, you can ask them how well that medication is working to relieve their pain.
Their response will help you find out if they need your help.