Analysis of Chronic Pain Management in Canada and South Asia

Abstract

Chronic pain is a complicated condition that involves biological, sociological and psychological aspects. Management of chronic pain vastly differs between high-income and low- and middle-income countries due to variances in pain education, drug accessibility, governmental policies, culture and infrastructure. Therefore, this literature review analyzed chronic pain management in Canada and specific South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to examine these differences, as well as what sociocultural and infrastructural factors contribute to them. In Canada, chronic pain still presents a major obstacle for society due to opioid misuse and mortality, patient beliefs, and poor pain education in professional health science programs. However, Canada’s approach to pain assessment and management is more standardized through the regular use of pain scales and treatment guides and less hindered when compared to the South Asian countries examined. These South Asian countries face different barriers to providing effective pain management. Cultural beliefs, physician education, infrequent use of standardized pain assessment tools and healthcare infrastructure all present as barriers to effective pain management. Therefore, in Canada and the four South Asian countries examined, significance should be placed on the field of pain management via education, funding, and legislative changes to increase accessibility to suitable treatments.