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American Pain Society
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Glenview, IL 60025
David A. Williams, PhD, Department Editor
David A. Williams, PhD
The American Pain Society Board recently approved the formation of four special interest groups (SIGs): the Nursing Issues SIG, the Pain in Infants, Children, and Adolescents SIG, the Palliative Care SIG, and the Psychosocial Research SIG.
SIGs are a forum through which interested members can meet, share ideas, discuss a specific field or topic, and receive updates on advances in a subfield related to pain. Each SIG must be multidisciplinary and open to participation by any APS member. While the work of a SIG typically is carried out by its individual members over the course of the year, each SIG can meet as a group at the APS Annual Scientific Meeting.
The membership fee for one SIG is included in the APS annual dues. APS members can join as many SIGs as they wish, regardless of discipline, and each SIG membership will be designated in the APS membership directory.
Each SIG elects a representative every year at the annual scientific meeting. The representative or steering committee determines the format and topics of a SIG meeting for presentation at the annual SIG group meeting. A SIG meeting should not conflict with sessions that are part of the scientific program and must be open to all APS members, as space allows.
Any group of 25 or more APS members may apply for formation of a SIG. This application must be approved by the APS Board. The letter of application must include the following: the name of the proposed SIG, a description of the proposed activity and scientific focus, and the names and signatures of the founding members. To receive additional information about forming a SIG, e-mail APS at info@ampainsoc.org or call 847/375-4715.
In the coming months, each SIG will be featured in APS Bulletin. The SIG chair or steering committee will determine the content of each feature article.
The representatives of each of the four APS SIGs provided the following information describing the SIG and outlining the focus of its recent business meeting as well as the coming year's agenda.
The SIG for nursing issues was formally established after the 1997 APS Annual Scientific Meeting. However, a nursing issues group had met annually for many years at the APS meeting to network, meet others, and informally discuss possible collaborative presentations.
Last year Rosellen Lanning was elected as the chair of the Nursing Issues SIG. She conducted a brief e-mail survey of SIG members on pertinent issues related to nursing. The results were briefly presented at the November business meeting, and a 11/2-hour discussion followed.
Among the issues discussed were ways to accomplish the following:
The SIG also considered topics to be presented at the 1999 APS Annual Scientific Meeting and discussed possible topics for collaboration on a professional development course.
A flyer was distributed requesting SIG members' e-mail addresses, and an Internet mailing list (listserv) will be developed during the year. Margo McCaffery was elected as the 1998-1999 chair. She will distribute the mailing list to SIG members. For further information contact Margo McCaffery at 8347 Kenyon Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045, 310/649-2219 or fax 310/649-0011.
The SIG on pain in infants, children, and adolescents grew out of a task force that had been in existence for about 3 years. The task force had written a policy statement focusing on adequate treatment of acute pain in infants and children, which was approved by the APS Board about 2 1/2 years ago. It is now undergoing final review and approval by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which will publish it.
Discussion in the recent meeting led to several decisions about actions to take in 1999:
For further information contact Gary Walco, PhD, Tomorrow's Children's Institute, Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601, 201/996-5437, fax 201/487-7340, gwalco@humed.com.
The SIG on psychosocial research grew out of an informal gathering of like-minded researchers that had been in existence for about 4 years. Its first meetings focused on networking among those working in the field and sharing the current status of research. More recent meetings featured minisymposia on specific topics of interest. At the most recent APS meeting, the SIG used a formal symposium slot to provide an update about issues bridging psychosocial research and clinical practice.
An article in an upcoming issue of APS Bulletin will summarize this update.
The November SIG business meeting was chaired by Bob Kerns, PhD. It covered the following agenda items:
For further information contact David A. Williams, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3750 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007, 202/687-6571, fax 202/687-6658, e-mail williada@gunet.georgetown.edu.
The SIG on palliative care was proposed and approved this year. Its formation reflects a growing trend to establish comprehensive palliative care programs and provide appropriate end-of-life care. Given the leadership role of APS in encouraging research, education, and patient advocacy in the field of pain, it is not surprising that some of its members are expanding their work to include palliative care and are participating in the national leadership of this developing field.
The first meeting in San Diego led to important decisions about actions for 1999:
For further information please contact Kristine A. Nelson, MD, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation-M-76, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, 216/445-5073, e-mail nelsonk1@cesmtp.ccf.org.
David A. Williams is an associate professor of psychiatry and division chief of behavioral medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC.
