Nonpharmacologic Treatment of Pain: A 12-Question Quiz

Question 1: True or false? The Joint Commission requires that all accredited hospitals and facilities provide evidence-based nonpharmacologic treatment options for pain management as a scored element of patient care. 

Answer: A. True. As of January 1, 2018, all Joint Commission-accredited hospitals and facilities must provide evidence-based nonpharmacologic options for pain management as a scored element of patient care.²

Question 2: Which pain treatment(s) did the consortium task force not review because it was already widely recognized as effective?

Answer: F. All of the above. The task force felt that the efficacy of all of these treatments were already widely recognized, so further review was not necessary or indicated. 

Question 3: True or false? When nonpharmacologic therapies are covered by insurance, the cost is significantly higher than the cost of what are considered "conventional" therapies alone. 

Answer: B. False. Studies show that when these nondrug therapies are covered by insurance, the cost of care is at most modestly increased and, because these therapies can be used instead of more expensive ones, their use can reduce overall costs. 

Question 4: Which treatment modality did the task force find the greatest evidence to support its use?

Answer: B. Acupuncture. 

Question 5: Current research has found acupuncture to be beneficial for chronic noncancer pain and what else? 

Answer: D. All of the above. Acupuncture has been found beneficial to treat acute and subacute LBP, postoperative pain, and cancer-related pain. 

Question 6: Massage therapy has been found effective for acute/chronic LBP and what else? 

Answer: E. A and C. Massage therapy is effective in the management of postsurgical and cancer-related pain. 

Question 7: Music therapy has been found effective for all but which one of the above patient groups?

Answer: B. Adults with chronic LBP. While there is no evidence for the efficacy of music therapy to manage chronic LBP, there is evidence supporting its benefits for burn patients and pediatric postoperative patients. 

Question 8: Benefits of virtual reality-assisted distraction therapy have been reported in patients with which types of pain?

Answer: A. Burn pain. While there is limited evidence so far on the use of virtual reality-assisted distraction therapy for pain, the completed research indicates it may be effective for both adult and pediatric burn pain and wound care. 

Question 9: Which appear/s to be true of spinal manipulation therapy?

Answer: E. A and C. While spinal manipulation therapy may provide relief for back and neck pain, it carries a greater risk for more significant adverse events such as cervical artery dissection, stroke, and neck injury. 

Question 10: The task force found sufficient evidence to support the use of biofeedback for all but which of the above?

Answer: B. Postoperative pain. While there are studies supporting the use of biofeedback for tension-type headaches, chronic LBP, and fibromyalgia, there is no sufficient evidence for postoperative pain. 

Question 11: What is the limitation to the supported use of several nondrug pain management therapies? 

Answer: D. All of the above. The task force found that all three factors limit patient access to nondrug pain management therapies. 

Question 12: What is the mean number of hours focused specifically on pain and its management in all 3-4 year American medical schools?