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info@ampainsoc.org847.375.4715
American Pain Society
4700 W Lake Ave
Glenview, IL 60025
Michael E. Clark, PhD, Department Editor
Reviewed by Ronald J. Gironda, PhD
This is the home page of the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA). The mission of the ACPA is “to facilitate peer support and education for individuals with chronic pain and their families so that these individuals may live more fully in spite of their pain” and “to raise awareness among health care community, policy makers, and the public at large about issues of living with chronic pain.” The ACPA Web site targets both of these broad groups with content and resources designed to advance the organization’s mission.
The ACPA site content is loosely organized under headings that represent the organization’s target audiences and specific areas of interest. Content for individuals with pain conditions and their family members includes general information about coping with pain and choosing a multidisciplinary program, educational videos, a medication supplement, and links to other pain-related resources on the Web. The locations of all ACPA support groups are provided by state, but it is necessary to contact the organization directly for details. Also provided is basic information about forming and conducting an ACPA support group. Advocacy information and resources can be found by following the Professionals & Caregivers and Partners for Understanding Pain links. Current news links are located in each subsection as well as under a separate heading. Organizational information and member resources are easily accessed from the home page. Several corporations are recognized on the site for their support of the ACPA, and links to the sites of two corporate sponsors are located at the bottom of the home page. However, there are no commercial banners on the site.
With the exception of the ACPA Members section, the Web site is fully accessible to anyone and requires no registration. As noted, the site content is grouped by target audience and interest area, with significant overlap across these subsections. The graphic design and navigational structure of the site is simple but effective. Although a search engine is not provided, most of the information is easily located. A more limited version of the site is offered in Spanish.
Clinicians may find this site most useful as a resource for patients and their families. For APS members who are interested in advocacy and policy formation this site is a good starting place and a convenient portal to a range of additional resources on the Web.
Please direct your comments or suggestions for future Web Site Reviews to Michael E. Clark, PhD, Department Editor, at michaeleclark2@msn.com
