Redesigning the path of care and treatment goals in patients with chronic pain: Ideas from the Science of Relief 2.0 event

Natale, M. R.; Degirolamo, C.; Perversi, F.; Varrassi, G.

Chronic pain is a major health concern, albeit underestimated in times of a pandemic. With about a third of pain patients without a diagnosis and delayed referral to pain therapy specialists, the current management of chronic pain requires significant re-evaluation. The COVID-19 pandemic has, on the one hand, made the gaps in health systems more evident and, on the other, acted as a catalyst for a profound transformation in pain care. Following an in-depth context analysis, the Science of Relief 2.0 Event brought together clinicians operating in pain therapy centers throughout Italy with the aim of identifying concrete solutions and sharing proposals to optimize the organization of chronic pain management and treatment through working groups and educational sessions. This document illustrates the salient points of the event and discusses its implications for clinical practice.