Pain: understanding the biopsychosocial model and the paramedic’s role within the multi-disciplinary team

Abstract

Abstract published with permission. Pain, and its consequent management, is a major factor in today’s ambulance service, with up to 50% of patients reporting pain among their symptoms when contacting the emergency service. This article explores the role of the paramedic within the multi-disciplinary team and asks the question: ‘What is the appropriate treatment?’ A study of the biopsychosocial model shows that modern clinicians who focus solely on the biomedical model are under-treating the patient’s pain by ignoring the psychological and sociological aspects. All this belies a culture of pain management where recognition and treatments of painful conditions bias heavily on some diseases while ignoring or dismissing others. This can, in the eyes of patients, make the individuals complicit with the neglect of painful and life-altering conditions that may permanently change the patients focus and aspirations for the future, and disconnect the patient from the people that are there to help them.