Assessment of family physicians' general approaches to pain management in Sakarya province

AIM: Since the end of 2010, Turkey has adopted the family medicine system, in which primary healthcare services are delivered by family physicians. Pain assessment, management, and treatment are essential components of healthcare delivery. This study aims to evaluate the practices, attitudes, challenges, and educational needs of family physicians in Sakarya province regarding pain management, to determine the current situation and provide a foundation for future improvement efforts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2 and April 1, 2025, at the Department of Family Medicine, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine. Data were collected using an online questionnaire distributed to family physicians. The obtained data were analyzed with SPSS software, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: In this study, 54.5% of participants reported not receiving any training on pain management during their family medicine practice, while 82% expressed a desire for such education. Additionally, 83.6% considered their knowledge only partially adequate. Medical textbooks were identified as the most common source of information. The majority of physicians reported not using pain scales. Family physicians frequently manage chronic pain, most often through pharmacological interventions, primarily oral analgesics. Intramuscular treatments were used occasionally, whereas opioid analgesics were rarely prescribed. CONCLUSION: Medical school curricula should be revised to emphasize pain management and patient-centered approaches to pain. Continuing education programs should be regularly organized by health authorities, and systemic improvements are needed to promote the use of pain scales and strengthen the infrastructural and informational support for effective pain management in primary care. Keywords: Analgesics, family medicine, pain, pharmacologic therapy