The majority of Quebecers do not have access to current scientific evidence and ongoing scientific research, and chronic pain patients are no exception. Our project gives back to the community by maximizing the position of graduate students, who have access to state of-the-art pain research and the ability to share this information with others in need.
The QNJPI-AQDC initiative was launched in 2018 by Myriam Pâquet, the past QNJPI Community Relations Manager. The goal of this initiative is for QNJPI student-members to offer educational presentations to those living with persistent pain on a pain-related topic. The initiative is a collaboration with the Quebec Association of Chronic Pain (AQDC), which offers support groups for those living with persistent pain. Although the support groups are generally made up of discussion amongst the participants, presentations are an equally helpful tool to support those living with persistent pain through educational information.
The majority of Quebecers do not have access to current scientific evidence and ongoing scientific research, and persistent pain patients are no exception. However, graduate students are in an ideal position of having access to state-of-the-art pain research and the ability to share this information with others in need. In addition, student-members are chosen to present if they have received a QPRN travel award – an award which only exists thanks to public funds, largely from the government of Quebec. For the 2019-2020 presentations, current QNJPI Community Relations Manager Catherine Paré developed follow-up surveys for the students and participants to further improve this growing project, thereby emphasizing knowledge transfer that might help minimize the long-term suffering of those living with persistent pain.
