Grant: Doctoral Research Award - PA:Patient-Oriented Research - Health Economics

Health economics and pharmacoeconomics are emerging approaches for the valuation of chronic conditions. With the aging population, chronic conditions are more frequent and health expenses are exploding. Studies also show that working-age males meet with greater work absenteeism due to chronic pain, resulting in important socioeconomical loss for the industrialized economies. Meanwhile, we need to take action to improve the health system as the capacity to support medical care could be affected in a close future by limited federal/provincial budgets reaching a ceiling for health expenses. In this research program, we propose to develop this crenel within the Quebec Pain Research Network by the joint efforts of research teams from UdeS, UdeM and UMcGill. We will determine the direct costs in Multidisiplinary Pain Treatment Facilities (MPTFs). Those data will allow, in the long-term, to perform a cost-effectiveness study based on the level of recovery achieved in the MPTFs. Overall, this will detail where the costs for LPB management are the greatest and provide insights for explaining potential inequalities. Accordingly, decision-makers will be able to propose adapted programs either to physicians or the population to balance the health costs while providing improved management and benefits for LBP coping patients.