The Quebec Pain Research Network (QPRN) presents a series of Webinars on the theme COVID-19 & Pain, in order to promote the work of researchers of the QPRN who have integrated a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic in their research.
You can find the videos on our YouTube channel
Epidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders in prosthetic orthotists in Quebec: description and impacts
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a major cause of occupational morbidity for workers around the world. Several epidemiological studies on MSDs were carried out among health professionals but there are few or no studies of MSDs on prosthetic orthotists (POs). The goal of the project is to (1) draw up POs profile in terms of MSDs prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) measure the impact of MSDs on the drug use and health care utilization as well as the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study will be carred out through an online survey among the POs.
Watch Nabiha Benyamina-Douma’s video
The impact of COVID-19-related stress on chronic low back pain and patients’ trajectories
Persistent pain is the #1 cause of years lived with disability and will likely be affected by the COVID19 pandemic. The Quebec Back Pain Consortium is a strategic initiative of the Quebec Pain Research Network of the FRQS, involving 13 research teams from 5 Universities and one association of persistent pain patients. We have initiated a Low Back Pain cohort in Nov. 2018 using a web-based platform (https://backpainconsortium.ca/) to study and predict persistent pain trajectories (questionnaires, RAMQ, medication, etc.). Baseline measures have been completed by 2641 participants, including 2298 (87%) agreeing to give blood to the Qc Low Back Pain Biobank. We will (1) characterize the stress induced by the COVID19 crisis using (1a) quantitative and (1b) qualitative approaches, and (2) assess the physiological stress response by measuring cortisol in hair. This will allow examining (3) how individual differences in stress-responses affect pain & well-being, trajectories and health-care resources utilization, and (4) how genetic/epigenetic factors affect the stress response in this population.