Development of a comprehensive e-learning resource in pain management

The prevalence of chronic nonmalignant pain (CNMP), the lack of confidence and reward among trainees and providers caring for patients with CNMP, and the lack of a comprehensive curriculum in pain management prompted the creation of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Chronic Nonmalignant Pain Management curriculum, an innovative e-learning resource. This article describes the development of the curriculum and presents initial evaluation data.

The curriculum is organized into six modules that cover 20 specific Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education competency-based objectives. Broad content and effective instructional design elements promote its utility among a range of learner levels in a variety of medical disciplines.

Twenty-four physician reviewers and over 430 trainees (medical students and graduate medical residents) have evaluated the curriculum. Of the respondents to course evaluation questions, 85.7% (366/427) stated that they would access the practice resources again, 86.3% (366/424) agreed that the treatment of CNMP was more important to them after completing the curriculum, 73.9% (312/422) stated that they would make changes in their behavior or practice, and 92.3% (386/418) stated that they would recommend the curriculum to their colleagues. Qualitative data are uniformly positive. Results of pretest and posttest scores and item analyses have been used to make content changes.

The VCU Chronic Nonmalignant Pain Management curriculum is an e-learning resource that has the potential to fill a significant training void. Design and content changes have been made as a result of initial evaluation data. Data from ongoing evaluation will allow curricular refinement.