Advancing Chronic Pain Care Through Implementation Science
Advancing Chronic Pain Care Through Implementation Science
Chronic pain affects one in five Canadians and can have a profound impact on individuals, families, and communities. While research continues to generate new insights into how chronic pain can be managed, this knowledge doesn’t always reach the people who need it — and even when it does, it doesn’t always lead to changes in practice. Moreover, it is critical that care reflects what matters most to people living with pain. Our work uses implementation science to bridge these gaps: helping ensure that evidence not only informs care, but also leads to meaningful, lasting improvements grounded in people’s priorities and experiences.
Our Focus
- Improving access to evidence-informed chronic pain care
- Supporting the adoption and sustainment of practices shown to work
- Promoting the use of innovative tools, including digital supports such as the
Power Over Pain Portal for adults and
youth
- Ensuring the voices and priorities of people with lived experience shape all phases of research
Our work is grounded in an integrated knowledge translation (IKT) approach, involving people living with pain, healthcare providers, researchers, knowledge brokers, and others from the outset through to sharing and applying what we learn.
Examples of Studies We’re Conducting
Making Sense of Veterans’ Pain
In collaboration with Pain BC, this study explores the diverse experiences of Veterans living with chronic pain, with a particular focus on understanding what affects access to care. By applying an intersectionality lens and working to centre equity-deserving groups, this project aims to tailor an accessible chronic pain self-management program to the unique needs of Canadian Veterans. The project is part of our work with the
Chronic Pain Network and is funded by the
Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans.
This project is also part of our broader
IMPACT-CVM Program, which supports evidence-informed improvements in care for military personnel, Veterans, and people living with chronic conditions.
Promoting the Adoption and Sustained Implementation of Digital Health Tools for Self-Management of Chronic Pain in Primary Care Settings
This study is also part of our work with the Chronic Pain Network. It explores the barriers and enablers to adopting and sustaining the implementation of digital health tools by healthcare professionals working in primary care settings. These tools are designed to support people living with chronic pain in managing their condition, and the study focuses on the perspectives of healthcare providers .
Read our registered protocol on the Open Science Framework.
Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building
We are committed to supporting trainees, clinicians, and researchers to build skills in implementation science. We also share what we learn through national events and networks. For example, at the
2024 Canadian Pain Society Conference,
we presented a poster on Applying Implementation Science for Improved Uptake and Sustainment of Innovations in Chronic Pain Care, highlighting our collaborative and patient-partnered approach.
View our 2024 Canadian Pain Society Conference poster.
Who We Are
This work is co-led by Dr. Justin Presseau, Co-Chair of the Knowledge Mobilization and Implementation Science Committee of the
Chronic Pain Network, and
Dr. Jenny Olson, and is supported by a team of research staff dedicated to improving chronic pain care through practical, equity-informed implementation research.
Our team includes Chloe Desjardins, Clinical Research Coordinator for the Making Sense of Veterans’ Pain project, and
Dr. Alexander Lithopoulos, a Research Methodologist supporting the project examining barriers and enablers of implementing digital health tools in primary care settings.
