The current landscape of pain management in Australia


Published: 8th October 2024

Overview

  • Chronic non cancer pain (CNCP) is a major global health problem and is highly prevalent in Australia.1
  • CNCP is Australia’s third most costly health problem.2,3
  • While the prevalence of CNCP increases with age, those living with CNCP are more likely to be female, and of working age.1,2
  • There are many known causes of CNCP including injury and musculoskeletal conditions.2
  • Despite the high prevalence and impact of CNCP nationwide, CNCP remains poorly
    treated overall.2
  • People living with CNCP have a high prevalence of comorbid psychological disorders.2
  • General practitioners (GPs) are the primary contact for patients seeking treatment for CNCP.4
  • There are significant barriers for patients to accessing coordinated pain management at the primary care level.3
  • The clinical dilemma of CNCP management is that, while good pain management has significant benefits, no treatment is effective in all patients.3,5

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.6 Chronic non cancer pain (CNCP) is pain that continues for more than 3 months after surgery, an injury, as a result of disease, or from another cause.7