Introduction
Pain has profound effects on human productivity and quality of life. Pain can result in patients experiencing stigma in addition to the profound suffering intrinsic to pain. Since the early 70s, much has been learned about pain through research and collaboration of diverse healthcare professionals and scientists. Despite advances in understanding pain causes, processes, and potential treatments, progress in the preparation of healthcare professionals has been slow. This book represents a collaborative effort of a wide variety of experts in pain, including physicians, nurses, clinical psychologists, pharmacists, scientists, physical therapists and others. The content is organized around learning objectives and targets of the needs of early career health practitioners, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and others. While this book may serve as a refresher, many will be learning this material for the first time. We hope to inspire our readers to engage in meaningful therapeutic partnerships with their patients utilizing the broadest range of effective pain management approaches and therapies with an awareness of safety, pain relief, and the highly individualized nature of pain. Attaining competence in pain care essentials is immensely rewarding for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers alike.