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Dear Colleagues,
Following the success of the first edition of the International Course on Pain Medicine (ICPM), it is my pleasure to announce that the next ICPM will take place on March 31st to April 3rd 2011 in Porto, Portugal.
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Pain is one of the main reasons leading patients to seek medical help from their family doctors/general practitioners or other healthcare physicians. Although, in many cases, pain represents the symptom of an underlying disease, if that disease cannot be diagnosed and/or cured, pain becomes chronic and constitutes the major (often the sole) problem of the patient, with a profound impact on his/her quality of life and of the immediate circle of family and friends. In this context, pain becomes a disease in its own right, encompassing multiple and often complex biological, psychological and social factors that must be addressed for the correct and efficient management of pain.
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Unlike scientific congresses dedicated to pain, the ICPM is an educational event aiming to provide an overview of the main chronic pain entities that most healthcare providers face in their daily practice, from the pathophysiological mechanisms, to the diagnosis and most advanced treatment options available. Hence, it is particularly dedicated to those professionals willing to increase or update their clinical knowledge on pain management.
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Each session will be dedicated to a topic and will include a comprehensive lecture by a pain specialist, complemented by clinical cases, provided and presented by attending participants, to illustrate the type of challenges posed by “real” patients. Ample time will be allocated for interaction with the audience, enhanced by a multimedia multiple-choice quiz on the topic of the session. Additional workshops on the evaluation of a pain patient will complement the topical sessions. It should be stressed that lecturers have been chosen not only according to their expertise in pain management, but also taking into account their experience in post-graduate teaching.
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I hope that you can join us in Porto for this unique Course, for the interactive networking amongst colleagues and to enjoy the beautiful city, that gave name to Portugal and famous for its historic centre, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, iron bridges, port wine and warm hospitality.
See you in Porto…!
José Castro-Lopes
Scientific Chairman
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