Activity Overview
Often chronic pain has no cure. It may be nociceptive, neuropathic, or disease specific. Left untreated, chronic pain may affect sleep, quality of life, mental health, and productivity. This condition is difficult to diagnose and manage because an individual’s perception of pain is subjective, and the cause varies between patients. Managed care pharmacists are readily available to patients and colleagues for questions regarding pain management. They can assess the patient’s risk for abuse and optimize treatment strategies for improved patient outcomes. In addition, they provide physicians and staff with important information regarding administration, side effects, drug interaction potential, and efficacy of pharmacologic agents used to address chronic pain. In order to provide this type of care, managed care pharmacists need an in-depth understanding of all the available and emerging technologies and options for pain management. This activity will focus on the current state of chronic pain management, various advances in treatment options, and how these issues speak to pharmacists working in the managed care arena.

Agenda

Goal
This activity has been designed to enhance managed care pharmacists’ understanding of the existing and emerging pharmacologic treatments for chronic pain and the implications for managed care; to provide strategies for improving pain control, risk management, and quality of life; and to identify and manage barriers associated with opioid therapy in order to provide optimal patient outcomes.

Intended Audience
This activity is designed for managed care pharmacists. No prerequisites required.

Learning Objectives
The University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CPE activity. Upon the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be able to:

• DIFFERENTIATE existing and emerging pharmacologic treatment options for chronic pain.
• DEMONSTRATE strategies to improve pain control, manage risk, and improve quality of life in patients with chronic pain.
• IDENTIFY barriers associated with opioid therapy and methods to overcome these obstacles to optimize treatment.
• DISCUSS managed care pharmacy implications of new and emerging technologies and changing use patterns.

Accreditation Statement
The University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education to provide continuing education for pharmacists.

Credit Designation Statement
This application-based activity is sponsored by the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy who is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Successful completion of this application-based educational activity will provide 1.5 contact hours credit (0.15 CEUs). A statement of CPE credit will be available online immediately following successful completion of the activity. Successful completion includes attending the on-line session, completing the pre- and post-test, and completing the educational activity evaluation. ACPE Program #064-000-09-203-L01-P.

Release Date: 3/15/10 Expiration Date: 3/15/12

The estimated time to complete this educational activity: 1.5 hours.

Faculty
Bruce R. Canaday, PharmD, FAPhA, FASHP (Chair)
Clinical Professor and Vice-Chair
Division of Pharmacy Practice and Experiential Education
University North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Robert L. Barkin, PharmD, MBA, FCP, DAAPM
Professor, Rush Medical College
Faculty of Anesthesiology, Family Medicine, and Pharmacology
Rush University Medical Center
Clinical Pharmacologist, Northshore University Health System—Skokie, Evanston Hospitals, Pain Centers, and
The Department of Anesthesiology
Chicago, Illinois

Charles Argoff, MD
Director, Comprehensive Pain Program
Professor of Neurology
Albany Medical College
Albany, New York

Full Disclosure Policy Affecting CPE Activities– As an accredited provider by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), it is the policy of The University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy to require the disclosure of the existence of any significant financial interest or any other relationship a faculty member or a sponsor has with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) discussed in an educational presentation. The faculty reported the following:

Dr Argoff reports receiving grants/research support and honoraria from Endo Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Inc; serving as a consultant for Alpharma Inc, Eli Lilly and Company, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc, King Pharmaceuticals Inc, Pfizer Inc, PriCara, Shire Specialty Pharmaceuticals, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals; serving on the speakers’ bureau for Eli Lilly and Company, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc, King Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Pfizer Inc, and PriCara; and holding stock in Pfizer Inc.

Dr Barkin reports serving as a consultant and as a speakers’ bureau educator for Alpharma Inc, Dominion Diagnostics, Eli Lilly and Company, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Forest Laboratories, Inc, King Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Meda Pharmaceuticals, Inc, PriCara, Sanofi-Aventis, and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dr Canaday reports serving as a consultant for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Notice: All faculty have indicated that they have not referenced unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices.

Disclaimer Statement
The opinions and recommendations expressed by faculty and other experts whose input is included in this program are their own. This enduring material is produced for educational purposes only. Use of University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy name implies review of educational format, design, and approach. Please review the complete prescribing information of specific drugs or combinations of drugs, including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects, before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.

Grievance Policy
A participant, sponsor, faculty member, or other individual wanting to file a grievance with respect to any aspect of an educational activity sponsored or cosponsored by The University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy may contact the Associate Dean for Continuing Education in writing. The grievance will be reviewed and a response will be returned within 45 days of receiving the written statement. If not satisfied, an appeal to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy can be made for a second level review.

Fee Information
There is no fee for this educational activity.