The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (“AFMC”) has created a free, online curriculum consisting of bilingual online courses that address opioid-related topics such as injectable opioid agonist therapy (iOAT), physician liability, opioid use in the elderly, female health, pediatrics, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and hospital-based medicine (the “Opioid Curriculum”).

The 2024 Canadian Guidelines for Opioid Use in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain is maintained by the Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre at McMaster University.

In this module, you will learn about the 2024 Canadian Guideline for Opioids and Chronic Non-Cancer Pain. Historically, opioids have been a common therapeutic option for management of chronic non-cancer pain. However, with increasing knowledge of potential harms and recognition of the benefits being more modest than were perhaps originally thought, attitudes towards the use of opioids for the management of chronic non-cancer pain have evolved.

The purpose of the updated guidelines is to consider the current best evidence within the context of patient values and preferences to provide evidence-based recommendations, and to help optimize current practice. This module, launching alongside the 2024 guidelines, is designed to provide context and highlight key nuances to the guidelines. Its goal is to support clinicians in effectively implementing the guidelines as they are released.

The topic begins with a Pre-Test for you to self-assess your knowledge and understanding of the guidelines. After completing the Pre-Test, you will gain access to the learning module for that same topic. The learning module is an interactive learning experience that will guide you through content provided by Canadian medical experts in the field. After completing the learning module, the Post-Test will be released. The Post-Test asks you to self-assess for a second time with the insight and knowledge you gained from the online learning module.