LECTURE OUTLINE

Phase 3B/yr4

Module

Anaesthesiology

Title

Pain as the 5th Vital Sign

Lecturer
Aims

Anaes Ipoh GH
To recognise Pain as a 5th vital sign. To provide an overview of
managing this vital sign.
At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to
a) Explain the importance of controlling pain
b) State the goals of pain assessment
c) Differentiate the different types of pain syndromes
d) Discuss the barriers of achieving good pain control.
e) Specify the tools of pain measurement

Learning
outcomes

Assumed
Knowledge
Lecture Contents

Clinical
Relevance
References

Pre-clinical medical sciences modules

i. Define pain: IASP
ii. Pain as the 5th sign: Blood pressure, pulse ,respiration,
temperature, PAIN
iii. Pain assessment goals
iv. Characteristics of nociceptive & neuropathic pain
v. Pain syndromes
vi. Barriers to pain assessment/management
vii. Patients rights and responsibilities
viii. Assessment of pain; History/Physical/Diagnostic test
ix. Tools of pain measurement: Uni & Multidimensional
Pain is recognised as a 5th vital sign. Increasing number of hospitals
in Malaysia are designated as Pain free hospitals. It is a right of
patients to have a pain free experience in the hospital.
1. Lecture notes: Clinical anaesthesia. Carl L Guinnutt 3rd Edition
2008
2. Textbook of Anaesthesia. Aitkenhead 5th Edition 2007
3. Basic practical per-anaesthesia. A.E Delilkan 3rd Edition 2005