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