Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Chronic pain is a leading contributor to suffering and disability. It is a particularly important challenge for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans. CAF Veterans are more likely to live with chronic pain than the Canadian population (27% to 57% of CAF Veterans versus 19% of all Canadians live with chronic pain). CAF Veterans are frequent users of medical services including family doctors, physician specialists and mental healthcare providers. However, there is a lack of research on the healthcare utilization rates of CAF Veterans living with chronic pain, specifically. Also, there is no information about the healthcare experiences, values and perceived needs of CAF Veterans living with chronic pain. Addressing these evidence gaps is critical for the development of future health services that meet the needs and align with the values of CAF Veterans living with chronic pain. We will use routinely collected healthcare data in Ontario to describe and analyze the healthcare services used by CAF Veterans living with chronic pain. We will perform in-depth one-on-one interviews with CAF Veterans living with chronic pain to understand their experiences, values and needs related to chronic pain management. This research will provide valuable information for healthcare providers, educators, policy makers, and CAF Veterans living with pain. The results will be shared widely to inform future health service delivery for CAF Veterans living with pain.