Evidence Brief: Supporting Chronic Pain Management across Provincial and Territorial Health Systems in Canada
Año de publicación: 2009
Chronic pain is a serious health problem given its
prevalence, associated disability, impact on quality of
life, and the costs associated with the extensive use of
healthcare services by people living with chronic
pain.(1) In Canada, some investments have been made
to strengthen chronic pain management. For example,
Alberta Health and Wellness (in partnership with the
Alberta Medical Association, the Calgary Health
Region, and the Capital Health Region) initiated pilot
projects to evaluate the effectiveness of
multidisciplinary chronic pain management programs
in Calgary and Edmonton.(2) In Québec, the Ministère
de la Santé et des Services Sociaux (Ministry of Health
and Social Services) struck a committee to develop a
national vision for the evaluation, treatment, and
management of chronic pain.(1) The Nova Scotia
Department of Health has provided a budget of $1
million per year since 2007 to support a province-wide
system of pain clinics with regional primary- and
secondary-care clinics and a central tertiary-care hub.(3)
Despite these and other investments, the management
of chronic pain remains a serious health system
challenge.