Der Schmerz
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Excellence in Pain Education was the motto of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Global Year Campaign for 2018. Explaining pain neurobiology to patients is one part of pain education. To assess patient's pain knowledge, the Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) has been extensively used internationally. The present study describes the translation, cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the German version of the NPQ (NPQ‑D). ⋯ The NPQ has been translated and adapted into German. The psychometric properties show satisfactory results and the questionnaire can be recommended for clinicians and researchers alike to assess pain knowledge and changes in pain knowledge after pain education interventions.
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The current debate about the interconnection between chronic pain and society is economically narrowed. This involves the threat of losing sight of the fact that the interconnection between society and chronic pain is a complex entanglement that goes beyond economic costs. ⋯ Society has to be considered as an influencing factor with respect to the development and stabilization of chronic pain. The outlined broadening of the perspective should contribute to a better understanding of the societal impact on chronic pain in order to stimulate an improvement in care and possibly a long-term reduction in costs.
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Patients with opioid use disorder survive longer and reach higher ages due to harm reduction and maintenance programs. Therefor and because of concomitant comorbidities there is an increased incidence of life-limiting diseases. Thus, increasing numbers of patients with opioid use disorder or in maintenance programs will require palliative care. ⋯ Home-care teams and inpatient hospices have been known to refuse admission for patients with opioid use disorder. Providing medical care to patients receiving substitution therapy can be challenging because maintenance programs require strict compliance with their rules and regulations; however, an individualized approach with knowledge of basic legal requirements enables good palliative care. In this manner, it is possible to ensure healthcare for these aging patients.