Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Chronic pelvic pain affects approximately 15% of women and an unknown number of gender diverse people. Despite its common and devastating effects, it is often dismissed and mismanaged by healthcare providers due to stigma, normalization and lack of education on this topic. This study will identify knowledge gaps about chronic pelvic pain of BC healthcare providers-in-training and develop an engaging online resource to address these gaps. To do this, I will 1) assess the knowledge needs of medical and nursing students on chronic pelvic pain in gynecology to inform the development of a resource, 2) use iterative cycles of user-centered design to develop a case-based serious game on the diagnosis and management of chronic pelvic pain in gynecology, and 3) test and refine the game to identify and address any usability concerns. I will then implement this resource into the University of British Columbia medical and nurse practitioner curriculums and translate research findings to the community. By providing an enrichment resource to address gaps in medical education, this project aims to improve healthcare provider understanding of this complex symptom and ultimately improve care for people with chronic pelvic pain.