EPN-V2

MAVIT5700 Pain - Multidimensional Assessment and Health Professional Interventions Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Smerte - multidimensjonal vurdering og helsefaglige tiltak
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Course history
Curriculum
SPRING 2026
Schedule
Programme description

  • Introduction

    Language of instruction: Norwegian

    This course covers theories and models used to understand the neurophysiological basis of pain and how physiological and sociocultural factors affect the experience of pain. It has a focus on how acute pain conditions can develop into persistent and long-term pain, and on how to carry out a multidimensional assessment, implement treatment measures and/or preventive interventions and evaluation.

  • Recommended preliminary courses

    Knowledge of the neurobiology and neurophysiological basis of pain corresponding to a bachelor’s degree in a healthcare profession.

  • Required preliminary courses

    The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health Sciences.

  • Learning outcomes

    After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

    Knowledge

    The student

    • can assess key theories related to pain in young people, adults and the older adults
    • can discuss approaches to assessing pain and appropriate interventions provided by healthcare professions
    • can critically assess theories on motivation and coping with respect to long-term pain conditions
    • can assess the significance of a culture and gender perspective in relation to pain

    Skills

    The student

    • can apply relevant theories and models on pain
    • can interpret the results of multidimensional assessments of people with pain
    • can critically reflect on different interventions for long-term pain conditions

    General competence

    The student

    • can describe key aspects of pain theories
    • can implement knowledge about multidimensional assessments of pain conditions
    • can disseminate research-based knowledge on the examination and treatment of pain

  • Teaching and learning methods

    The course will use varied, student-active work methods. Work methods comprise lectures, flipped classroom, seminars, presentations, group work and self-study. Presentations at the seminars are important to support the continued learning process and communication skills after the course.

    Teaching is organised as two one-week sessions on campus.

  • Course requirements

    None.

  • Assessment

    Individual home examination over 14 days. Scope: 3,000 words (+/- 10%).

    If the course is taught in English, students can also choose to write/conduct the examination in a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish or Danish).

  • Permitted exam materials and equipment

    All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

  • Grading scale

    Pass/fail.

  • Examiners

    All answers are assessed by one examiner.

    An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

  • Overlapping courses

    The course overlaps by 10 ECTS credits with MAFYS4100 Pain - Multidimensional Assessment and Health Professional Interventions.