CCRF UNVEILS FUNDING FOR NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS
TORONTO, December 20, 2019 — Today the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRF) announced funding for four new National Research Grants. These evidence-based research projects will advance the profession’s knowledge base and contribute to improved care for patients living with muscular, skeletal and nervous system pain. The Request for Proposals launched on October 16 – World Spine Day – and sought dynamic research projects with local, national and global impact. Canadian-based researchers with a doctoral degree were invited to apply. Proposals were required to address one or more of the CCRF’s National Research Priorities, which include Basic Science, Clinical Science, Health Systems and Population Health. The four winning submissions were reviewed and recommended by the CCRF’s Research Committee, which will play a role in evaluating the results. “We received a wide range of high-quality proposals from across the country,” said Robert Harris, Executive Director. “On behalf of the CCRF, its Board of Directors, and the Research Committee, congratulations to the following projects and teams.”Want to support more leading chiropractic research? Make a donation here. The CCRF is a charitable organization and you will receive a receipt for tax purposes when you donate.
1) Operationalizing ‘whole person’ pain care and the development of clinical resources
Award: $25,000
Lead: Dr. Peter Stilwell, Dalhousie University Purpose: Whole person care shifts the focus from pain as a symptom to pain as a complex experience – promoting treatment of a patient as a full human being and aligns with current evidence indicating that most back pain does not have a single identifiable cause. However, literature on whole person care related to musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is fragmented; common language and clinical guidance is lacking.National Research Priority: Clinical Science, Population health
Goals:
- Identify central features of whole person care as they relate to people experiencing MSK pain
- Develop practical evidence-based resources, including a collection of whole patient care principles, themes, and strategies clinicians can use when interacting with patients experiencing MSK pain
2) Understanding health care utilization for musculoskeletal disorders and disability in Canada: A population-based perspective
Award: $59,548
Lead: Dr. Pierre Côté, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University (OTU), and Centre for Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation at OTU and Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College Purpose: Fill a knowledge gap and provide essential data to the national and provincial chiropractic associations to inform policy development. Findings will also inform governments and payers about the health care needs of Canadians with musculoskeletal disorders and disability.National Research Priority: Population Health
Goals:
- Determine which health care providers Canadians consult to manage musculoskeletal pain.
- Describe the characteristics of Canadians who consult different types of health providers for musculoskeletal disorders and disability
3) Reducing wait times, opioid prescriptions and imaging rates for acute and chronic spine pain patients: A university-hospital based chiropractic clinic implementation project
Award: $250,000 ($83,333 x three years)
Lead: Dr. Steven Passmore, University of Manitoba Purpose: To understand potential barriers to managing spine pain patients without opioid medication and spine imaging prescription and the main factors related to referring these patients to hospital-based chiropractic care; and evaluate the impact of knowledge translation (KT) interventions combined with chiropractic care on reducing ED and SAC opioid medication and diagnostic imaging prescriptions, ED wait-time, and patient health outcomes.National Research Priority Categories: Health Systems & Population Health
Goals:
- Determine potential barriers to managing spine pain patients without opioid medication and diagnostic imaging prescriptions
- Determine the factors related to referring these patients to hospital-based chiropractic care
- Evaluate the impact of knowledge translation interventions combined with guideline-informed chiropractic care on reducing hospital emergency department (ED) and opioid medication, as well as diagnostic imaging prescriptions, ED wait-times, and patient outcomes
4) Advancing Patient Safety for Special Populations: Active Surveillance Reporting to Identify Adverse Events Following Chiropractic Care in Older Adults
Award: $50,000
Leads: Dr. Martha Funabashi, Clinical Research Scientist and Assistant Professor CMCC and Dr. Katharine Pohlman, Director of Research, Parker University Purpose: Inadequate prospective data on the safety of chiropractic care exists for chiropractic patients aged over 65 and the frequency of potential associated adverse events remains unknown.National Research Priority Categories: Clinical Science & Population Health
Goals:
- Calculate the frequency of reported adverse events following chiropractic care
- Explore patient and provider factors associated with reported changes in symptoms
This is just the beginning. Check back soon for more details on the CCRF’s upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP), expected in spring 2020. The CCRF wishes to acknowledge the fine work of our volunteer Research Committee. We also thank the Canadian Chiropractic Association, our provincial association partners and numerous individual donors for their generous financial support.
