Pain education policies and initiatives in Europe.

Curriculum development processes and guidelines in Europe are discussed. Both medical and nursing education are addressed and the goals of interprofessional education are described. The need to involve other professional liaison groups is described.

Geriatrics in medical students' curricula: questionnaire-based analysis.

Background: Demographic development is accompanied by an increasingly aging society. Concerning medical education, the treatment of older people as well as the scientific research and exploration of ageing aspects in the coming years need to be considered. Aim of the study was to ascertain medical students' knowledge, interest, and attitudes regarding older patients and geriatric medicine.

Knowledge levels of pharmaceutical sales representatives in pain therapy: a descriptive questionnaire-based study.

Purpose: Pain is a common physiological reaction. The development and sale of medication against pain is a main focus of pharmaceutical companies, with total sales of prescription analgesics amounting to US$50 billion in 2009. In this market, advertising is necessary.

Nursing, healthcare, and culture: a view of the year 2050 from Germany and the United kingdom.

This column presents a dialogue with German nurse scholar Gerd Bekel and United Kingdom nurse scholars, Francis C. Biley and Kirstin Fragemann, who share their respective visions and understanding of each country's vision of nursing, healthcare, and quality of life in the year 2050.