Essentials Book 3: Pain Assessment and Management 

Comprehensive, multimodal strategies for relieving suffering 

This fully updated edition of Pain Assessment and Management delivers a practical, evidence‑based framework for assessing and treating pain. Grounded in multidimensional pain assessment and the principles of total pain, this book equips clinicians to evaluate pain mechanisms, functional impact, psychosocial contributors, and risk profiles before selecting treatment strategies.  

Reflecting current national guidance and evolving best practices, this edition addresses the complexities of opioid therapy, chronic and cancer‑related pain, survivorship, and special populations. 

New in This Edition 

• Updated guidance aligned with CDC (2022), ASCO, and VA/DoD recommendations for pain management and opioid stewardship 
• Expanded pain classification, including nociplastic pain and neurobiologic frameworks 
• Enhanced multidimensional assessment tools, including expanded use of PQRSTU and functional goal‑based evaluation 
• Updated equianalgesic tables, opioid conversion guidance, and rotation protocols 
• Expanded coverage of nonpharmacologic and interventional therapies, including integrative, rehabilitative, and neuromodulatory approaches 
• Expanded guidance for special populations, including cancer survivors, older adults, pediatrics, and patients with organ dysfunction 

How This Book Strengthens Your Clinical Practice 

• Improve accuracy and consistency of pain assessment 
• Build patient‑centered, values‑aligned treatment plans that prioritize function, comfort, and quality of life  
• Strengthen confidence  in opioid  prescribing and monitoring  
• Apply multimodal pain management frameworks that reduce reliance on any single therapy  
• Manage complex and refractory pain with g structured approaches 
• Integrate team-based, whole-person pain care  

Authored and Edited by Leaders in the Field 
Developed by nationally recognized experts in hospice and palliative medicine, pain management, pharmacy, nursing, and interdisciplinary care, this volume combines clinical rigor with practical guidance for everyday practice. 

Part of the AAHPM Essential Practices in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Series 
A trusted, evidence-based resource for hospice and palliative clinicians. 

Explore the full 9-book series: Essential Practices in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Full Book Set)