Development and Implementation of an Online Pain Management Continuing Education Program

Multiple studies indicate a lack of pain management training across a range of healthcare specialties. The online Joint Pain Education Program (OJPEP) was created to provide content covering various topics that range from general pain science to integrative care to pain management. The present study evaluates the feasibility of an interdisciplinary, self-guided, online pain management continuing education program, the OJPEP.

A total of 228 learners participted in this study. Of the 228 learners, 58 learners identified as registered nurses and 12 learners identified as nurse practitioners.

Prospective single-arm education feasibility study.

Potential learners were provided invitations to participate via emails from clinic leadership and postings to hospital intranet websites. Learners registered online and could select up to eight modules, based on the materials developed from a Department of Defense/Veterans Administration project. Learners evaluated their satisfaction with module quality and applicability.

A variety of providers, predominately non-prescribers, across many health care specialties, registered for modules. Across all modules except one, less than half of participants who registered completed the selected module. Time stamps indicated many learners skipped module content. Of those who completed the continuing education evaluation to obtain certificates, the majority indicated the content was of high-quality, appropriate, and evidence-based. One-third to approximately one-half of learners indicated that they would apply content in their clinical practice. Completion of the intended 3-month follow-up survey was poor.

Though modules were acceptable per learner responses, future work is needed to: develop modules that are more engaging (e.g., interactive) and applicable to learners; and improve implementation methods to include dissemination and evaluation metrics.