Description
Suffering is an important concept in the field of pain, yet we do not have a clear definition for this concept.
About this event
What is pain-related suffering – and why does it matter in the clinical encounter?
Suffering and pain usually go hand-in-hand, and yet there is no clear and all-encompassing definition of what suffering actually is. Without a clear definition and corresponding understanding of suffering, how can we as clinicians recognise and help alleviate it?
As a renowned expert in this area, during the session Peter will answer the following questions:
• How have people conceptualized suffering?
• Are pain and suffering distinct experiences?
• How might pain and suffering be related?
• What are the key attributes of pain-related suffering?
• How might we assess and alleviate pain-related suffering?
• What further challenges in pain and suffering need to be addressed?
Peter Stilwell
Peter Stilwell is a Canadian Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University, Montreal, where he is currently a Ronald Melzack Fellow in Pain Research at the Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain. Peter’s research interests include pain, suffering and person-centered care.
Before completing a PhD in Health in 2020 at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he obtained an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Research in Physiotherapy from Dalhousie.
In addition to his research and clinical background, Peter has been heavily involved in community-based initiatives, including the creation of a free health education and walking program in Nova Scotia.Follow Peter on Twitter: @Peter_Stilwell
