Effective pain and symptom control, the foundation of palliative care, is best achieved through a team approach that seeks to address the psychological, social, spiritual and physical needs of patients and their families.  Patients do not need to suffer distressing symptoms and pain.  An impeccable assessment of symptoms (including pain) is critical to identifying the cause of a symptom and how to manage it.

The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) is therefore pleased to provide an e-learning guide to facilitate self-directed learning on how to manage pain effectively using the Beating Pain: A Pocket Guide for Pain Management in Africa publication.  Both the pocket guide and e-learning guide target doctors, clinicians, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacists and dispensers at all levels of service provision in Africa.  The e-learning guide enables you to undertake self-directed learning on pain management using the pocket guide as a resource.

APCA hopes that these resources will enhance your knowledge, skills, abilities, attitude and values in the accurate assessment and management of pain, as well as enable you to appreciate the importance of 'total pain' in patient management.  More specifically, APCA wishes that the e-learning guide will provide opportunities for improving the management of pain in your service as well as the wider health system in your setting.

Fatia Kiyange
Programmes Director
African Palliative Care Association

For access to the e-learning resources, you will need to take a minute to create a new account for yourself.  Click here to fill out the account form with your details.  Existing APCA website users need to enroll separately, too.  

For returning visitors, click here to log in.