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Review
. 2011 Nov-Dec;16(6):416-20.
doi: 10.1155/2011/513423.

Unrelieved pain: a crisis

Barry Sessle  1
Affiliations
Review

Unrelieved pain: a crisis

Barry Sessle. Pain Res Manag. 2011 Nov-Dec.

Abstract
in English, French

Despite many recent advances in the past 40 years in the understanding of pain mechanisms, and in pain diagnosis and management, considerable gaps in knowledge remain, with chronic pain present in epidemic proportions in most countries. It is often unrelieved and is associated with significant socioeconomic burdens. Several opportunities and approaches to address this crisis are identified in the present article. Most crucial is the need to increase pain awareness, enhance pain education, improve access to pain care and increase pain research resources. Given the variability among countries in health care policies and programs, resources and educational programs, many of the approaches and strategies outlined will need to be tailored to each country's socioeconomic and educational situation.

Malgré de nombreux progrès dans la compréhension des mécanismes de la douleur et dans le diagnostic et la prise en charge de la douleur depuis 30 ans, il reste d’énormes lacunes sur le plan des connaissances, la douleur chronique étant présente en proportions épidémiques dans la plupart des pays. Souvent, elle n’est pas soulagée et s’associe à d’importants fardeaux socioéconomiques. Le présent article contient plusieurs possibilités et plusieurs démarches pour régler cette crise. Il est particulièrement nécessaire d’augmenter la sensibilisation à la douleur, d’accroître la formation sur la douleur, d’améliorer l’accès aux soins de la douleur et d’enrichir les ressources de recherche sur la douleur. Étant donné la variabilité des politiques et des programmes, des ressources et des programmes de formation en matière de santé selon les pays, bon nombre des démarches et des stratégies présentées devront être adaptées à la situation socioéconomique et éducationnelle de chaque pays.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Prevalence of chronic pain in adults in 15 European countries. UK United Kingdom. Reproduced with permission from reference
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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