Vol. 31 No. 3 (2024), EJP article
Vol. 31 No. 3 (2024)

A pain research strategy for Europe: a european survey and position paper of the European Pain Federation EFIC

EJP article
Published 2025-10-01
Gisèle Pickering -
University Hospital image/svg+xml
Mary O'Keeffe -
UCD School of Public Health. University College Dublin
Kirsty Bannister -
nstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London
Susanne Becker -
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf image/svg+xml
Sonia Cottom -
Pain Association Scotland
Felicia J. Cox -
Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals. Guy's & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Elon Eisenberg -
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology image/svg+xml
David P. Finn -
Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, University of Galway
Patrice Forget -
Aberdeen Centre for Musculoskeletal Health. University of Aberdeen. ESAIC Research Group
Thomas Graven-Nielsen -
Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain. Aalborg University
Eija Kalso -
Intensive Care and Pain Medicine. University of Helsinki
Magdalena Kocot-Kepska -
Jagiellonian University Medical College
Hugo Leite-Almeida -
University of Minho. CVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory. Clinical Academic Center
José Antonio López-García -
Universidad de Alcalá de Henares
Mira Meeus -
Pain in Motion International Research Consortium. University of Antwerp
André Mouraux -
Institute of Neuroscience. UCLouvain
Bruno Pereira -
University Hospital Clermont-Ferrand
Livia Puljak -
Catholic University of Croatia image/svg+xml
Michiel F. Reneman -
University Medical Center Groningen. University of Groningen
Iben Rohde -
Pain Alliance Europe. Foreningen af kroniske smerteramte og pårørende
Ioannis Sotiropoulos -
nstitute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research
Nathan Skidmore -
School of Health and Life Sciences. Teesside University
Thomas R. Tölle -
Technical University of Munich image/svg+xml
Snezana Tomasevic Todorovic -
University of Novi Sad. Clinic University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina
Andrea Truini -
University Sapienza
Kevin E. Vowles -
Queen's University Belfast & Belfast Centre for Pain Rehabilitation
Esther Pogatzki-Zahn -
University Hospital Muenster
Luis García-Larrea -
INSERM U1028, & Claude Bernard University
Brona M. Fullen -
University College Dublin. UCD Centre for Translational Pain Research

Abstract

Background: Pain is the leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life worldwide. Despite the increasing burden for patients and healthcare systems, pain research remains underfunded and under focused. Having stakeholders identify and prioritize areas that need urgent attention in the field will help focus funding topics, reduce ‘research waste’, improve the effectiveness of pain research and therapy and promote the uptake of research evidence. In this study, the European Pain Federation (EFIC) developed a Pain Research Strategy for Europe. Methods: The study used multiple methods, including literature searches, multidisciplinary expert debate, a survey and a final consensus meeting. The crosssectional survey was conducted among 628 European pain researchers, clinicians, educators and industry professionals to obtain the rating and hierarchy of pain research priorities. The final consensus meeting involved a multidisciplinary expert panel including people with lived experience from 23 countries. The survey results guided discussions where top priorities were agreed. Results: Content analysis identified nine survey themes, of which five emerged as top priorities: (i) understand the pathophysiology of pain; (ii) understand and address comorbidities; (iii) critically assess current therapies; (iv) develop new treatments; and (v) explore the biopsychosocial impacts of pain. Physical, psychological and social approaches were prioritized at the same level as pharmacological treatments. The top priorities were endorsed by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The panel emphasized the importance of also clearly communicating the concepts of prediction, prevention selfmanagement and personalized pain Management in the final strategy. Conclusions: The content of the final top research priorities' list reflects a holistic approach to pain management. The equal importance given to physical, psychological and social aspects alongside pharmacological treatments highlights the importance of a comprehensive biopsychosocial-orientated research strategy. The expert panel's endorsement of five top priorities, coupled with an emphasis on communicating the concepts of prediction, prevention, self-management and personalized pain management, provides a clear direction for future basic, translational and clinical research. Significance: EFIC has developed a Pain Research Strategy for Europe that identifies pain research areas deserving the most focus and financial support. Implementation and wide dissemination of this Strategy is vital to increase the conduct of urgent pain projects, pain research funding and the implementation of research findings into practice, to ultimately decrease the personal, societal and financial burden of pain.
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