Examination
General Information
The first Pain Medicine subspecialty examination was held in September 2016. The examination consists of a written component only. This examination assesses the candidate's competence to function as a Pain Medicine consultant as it pertains to the Objectives of Training. The format is short answer questions (SAQ). The examination fee set by the Royal College for the written examination of Pain Medicine is currently $2005.00. The 2018 examination date is September 27-28, 2018.
Objective of the examination
Comprehensive objective examinations make it possible to obtain a more complete evaluation of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses. Success or failure is based on consideration of all components of the examination. Candidates who are unsuccessful at this examination must, if within their period of eligibility, repeat all components of the examination.
Objective of SAQ component
The exam will test clinical competence in prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with acute and chronic non-cancer and cancer pain in a multidisciplinary framework. It will encompass knowledge of pain mechanisms, management and basic science.
Format of SAQ component
The written component consists of two (2) papers of short-answer questions.
The topic areas will include but not limited to foundational knowledge, acute pain management, addiction medicine, cancer pain management, MSK, neurology, psychiatry, pediatrics and sleep medicine as they pertain to comprehensive pain management.
Foundational knowledge will include but will not be limited to: anatomy, pharmacology and pathophysiology.
What is the eligibility?
In general, candidates can apply through two routes:
1. Completion of pain medicine residency
a. A 24-month training in an accredited residency program in Canada
OR
b. An ACGME accredited training program in US
2. PER Eligibility Route (Please see section on PER)
Study Resources
This section will be updated.
Oxford Textbook of Pediatric Pain. Editors: Patrick McGrath, Bonnie J. Stevens, Suellen M. Walker, William T. Zempsky.
Clinical Pain Management: A Practical Guide. Mary E. Lynch, Kenneth D. Craig and Philip W.H. Peng (Wiley-Blackwell).
Medically Unexplained Symptoms, Somatization and Bodily Distress: Developing Better Clinical Services. Peter Henningsen and Per Fink (Cambridge Medicine).
Reference Material
General
- Self-Assessment Module for Pain Medicine:
SAM-PM is a self-study CME program that covers established knowledge in the subspecialty field of pain medicine. With the SAM-PM program you can assess areas of strength and weakness in pain medicine knowledge and target ongoing education in these areas. It is established by the combined efforts of ASA and ASRA.
Content includes 100 questions with answers, detailed discussions explaining the rationale for each answer and references for further study. Subscribers complete the program at their own pace and submit the answers online to receive CME credit.
- Clinical Pain Management:
A Practical Guide: (Eds) Mary E. Lynch, Kenneth D. Craig and Philip W. H. Peng. (Wiley-Blackwell).
A book project of the Canadian Pain Society Education Special Interest Group covering the ISAP curriculum on pain medicine with concise summary of the topics.
-
Essentials of Pain Medicine: (Eds) Honorio Benzon, Srinivasa Raja, Spencer Liu, Scot Fishman, Steven Cohen. (Elsevier)
A popular book in US used by trainees to prepare for examination.
- Wall & Melzack's Textbook of Pain, 6th Edition 2013.
- Bonica's Management of Pain, 4th Edition.
Subspecialty
Cancer Pain
Cancer Pain. Pharmacologic, Interventional, and Palliative Approaches: (Eds)Oscar A. de Leon-Casasola, MD(Elsevier).
Psychiatry
Medically Unexplained Symptoms, Somatization and Bodily Distress: Developing Better Clinical Services: Peter Henningsen and Per Fink.(Cambridge Medicine).
DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association.
Pediatric
Oxford Textbook of Paediatric Pain. (Eds) Patrick J McGrath, Bonnie J Stevens, Suellen M Walker, William T Zempsky.
Miscellaneous
- Health Canada Medical Marijuana Document.
- Basbaum AI, Bautista DM, Scherrer G, Julius D. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Pain. Cell 2009;139(2):267-284.
- Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use of Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain.
- Pharmacological Management of Chronic Neuropathic Pain: Revised Consensus Canadian Pain Society, Pain Research Manag 2014;19(6):328-335
- Pelvic Pain Diagnosis and Management. Ed Howard, Frederick. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins:Philadelphia 2000.
- World Health Organization 2012 Measuring Health and Disability; Manual for WHO Disability Assessment Schedule, WHODAS 2, World Health Organization, 2010 Geneva.
- Kendall et al. Guide to Assessing Psycho-Social Yellow Flags in Acute Low Back Pain. ACC & NZGG, Wellington, NZ. (2004 Ed.).
- 2012 Canadian Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
- Quebec Task Force Scientific Monograph of the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders.
- Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Society. The International Headache Society. The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 2nd Edition.
On-Line Study Resources
[Self-Assessment Module — Pain Medicine - http://education.asahq.org/12SAMPM]
The on-line only module was established by the joint efforts of American Society of Anesthesiologists and American Society of Regional Anesthesia. SAM-PM is a self-study CME program that covers established knowledge in the subspecialty field ofpain medicine. With the SAM-PM program you can assess areas of strength and weakness in pain medicine knowledge and target ongoing education in these areas.
Content includes 100 questions with answers, detailed discussions explaining the rationale for each answer and references for further study. Subscribers complete the program at their own pace and submit the answers online.