Credit Hours: CME 1.00

Target Audience:

This case emphasizes the commonplace nature of imaging-identified degenerative pathology in older adults, even in those that are pain-free, and the importance of comprehensive assessment and precise treatment targeting to afford optimal outcomes in older adults with chronic low back +/- leg pain.
The target audience is primary care physicians.

Educational Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this continuing pharmacy education program, the participant should be able to:

Describe the components of a comprehensive stepped-care approach to pain management in the older adult with chronic low back pain.
Employ the skills needed to perform a musculoskeletal examination on their future patients with chronic low back pain that is designed to identify pain contributors and potential treatment targets.
Describe key components of biopsychosocial assessment in the older adult with chronic non-cancer pain.

Suggested Additional Reading:

Morone NE, Weiner DK. Pain as the fifth vital sign: Exposing the vital need for pain education. Clin Ther. 2013 Nov;35(11):1728-32. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014929181301014X)

Authors:

Debra Weiner, MD, CoEPE Co-Director — Associate Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry and Anesthesiology in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Physician in the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging. Center of Excellence in Pain Education (CoEPE), Co-Director.
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.

Heiko Spallek, DMD, PhD, MSBA (CIS): CoEPE Co-Director — Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh where he is also appointed as Associate Professor at the Center for Dental Informatics with secondary appointments in the Department of Biomedical Informatics and the School of Information Sciences. Center of Excellence in Pain Education (CoEPE) Co-Director.
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.

Jordan Karp, MD — Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Anesthesiology, and Clinical and Translational Science, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh.
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.

Michael Schneider, DC, PhD — Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute. He serves as a committee member on the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board (IRB) and is also an Advisory Panel Member to the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.

Natalia Morone, MD, MS — Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Clinical and Translational Science
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.

Zsuzsa Horváth, PhD, CoEPE Director — Assistant Professor in Department of Dental Public Health and Director of Faculty Development in the Office Faculty Affairs at the School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Horváth is also Director of the Academic Career Track Area of Concentration (ACT ARCO) and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Dental Education. Center of Excellence in Pain Education (CoEPE), Director.
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.

Authors disclosure of relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services, used on, or consumed by, patients is listed above. No other planners, members of the planning committee, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^™. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.