577: PAIN EDUCATION IN UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL CURRICULA: WHERE IS BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL CONTENT?

Topic: Education, Societal Impact, and Others
Subtopic: Education

Background and Aims: The more than fifty-year history of modern pain medicine shows that the prevalence of chronic pain continues to increase. Therefore, it is possible that the biopsychosocial complexity of chronic pain is underrepresented in undergraduate medical curricula. The aims of this study: to identify current issues in pain education in undergraduate studies and compare them with the Lithuanian curriculum. The objectives: 1) to find out the status of implementation of pain education programs worldwide; 2) to assess the distribution of biopsychosocial components; 3) to specify the Lithuanian undergraduate pain teaching program.

Methods: This was scoping review of existing literature followed by interventional study of Lithuanian data. The IASP curriculum outline on pain for medicine and EFIC’s analogue served as the guides. The following criteria were included in evaluation: 1) dedicated or not pain teaching modules; 2) compulsory or elective courses used; 3) the number of hours allocated for pain; 4) credits for biological, social and psychological components.

Results: Data from 548 medical universities worldwide. Teaching on pain curriculum - 412 (75%). Rate of pain dedicated modules - 84/412 (20%). Compulsory/elective rate - 5.9/1, teaching hours - 12 -47 (mean – 23.7). The distribution of biopsychosocial components - within 142 pain curricula, psychological component was taught in 17 (12%), social - in 37 (26%) programs. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences has pain curriculum since 2002. The program is from 2nd to 6th study years: a) pain delivered in other modules; b) compulsory only; c) number of hours – 32.5; d) hours of biological component - 95.38 % , psychological - 4.61%, no hours for social component.

Conclusions: 1. Pain teaching in undergraduate studies worldwide is fragmented and poorly aligned with IASP and EFIC recommendations.
2. Psychosocial components of chronic pain are minimally included in medical study programs, including in Lithuania.
3. Insufficient training in psychological and social components may influence negative trends in the prevalence of chronic pain, further research is necessary.

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The Journal of Pain, Volume 12, Issue 12, 1199 - 1208

Presenting Author: Arunas Sciupokas
Submitting Author: Arunas Sciupokas

Senior Author: Arunas Sciupokas

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No