The Interdisciplinary Pain Research group focuses on the following research areas:
• Patient engagement and patient oriented research: Chronic pain research priority setting; patient-reported outcomes; stakeholder engagement.
• Mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain: Improving quality of life and reducing pain related disability among various chronic pain populations; understanding how mindfulness affects the brain, the body and the mind.
• Chronic pain in the emergency department: Improving clinical outcomes and reducing acute care utilization for chronic pain
• Improving chronic pain care in the community: Evaluating chronic pain education programs including access to specialist support and the use of electronic consultations, for primary care physicians
Dr. Patricia Poulin is a Clinical Health and
Rehabilitation Psychologist at The Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic, an Associate
Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and Assistant Professor at
in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine at The University of
Ottawa. She engages in supervision, training, and mentoring in each of these roles. Dr. Poulin is also one of 15 principal applicants responsible for the Chronic Pain Network (CIHR Strategy for Patient Oriented Research Network in Chronic Diseases) and is the lead investigator for network research conducted at The Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic.
Similar to that of her research interests, Dr. Poulin’s clinical focus is on addressing the psychological concerns of people living with the complexities of chronic pain through an integrative approach, incorporating mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and emotion-focused therapy as well as self-care practices as appropriate. Her clinical approach is trauma-informed and patient-centered.
Dr. Poulin is registered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario (since 2011), and her academic training has included the following:
• University of Toronto – Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
o PhD Counselling Psychology for Psychology Specialists (2009)
• York University
o BA Hons Psychology (2002)
o Certificate of Excellence – Bilingualism (2002)
o Work-Study Certificate Psychology (2002)
Committed to service contributions, Dr. Poulin has been a reviewer for multiple grant panels (e.g., Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research) and peer-review journals (e.g., Canadian Journal of Anesthesia), is a member of the Ottawa Health Science Network Research Ethics Board, and sits on various other committees.
Soltani S, Killackey T, Birnie KA, Brennenstuhl S, Kopala-Sibley DC, Choiniere M, Page MG, Dassieu L, Lacasse A, Lalloo C, Poulin PA, Ingelmo P, Ali S, Battaglia M, Campbell F, Smith A, Benayon M, Jordan I, Marianayagam J, Harris L, Mohabir V, Stinson J, Noel M, COVID Child Pain Team. (2023) Pain, mental health and healthcare utilization: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth with chronic pain, parents and siblings. Eur J Pain. [Epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1002/ejp.2157.
Tierney S, Magnan MC, Zahrai A, McIsaac D, Poulin P, Stratton A. (2023) Feasibility of a multidisciplinary Transitional Pain Service in spine surgery patients to minimise opioid use and improve perioperative outcomes: a quality improvement study. BMJ Open Qual. 12(2):e002278. doi: 10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002278.
Borg Debono V, Neumark S, Buckley N, Zacharias R, Hapidou E, Anthonypillai J, Faria S, Meyer CL, Carter T, Parker N, Lau B, Abreu E, Duggan S, Bisson E, Pierre J, Visca R, Poulin P. (2023) Transition to Virtual Care Services during COVID-19 at Canadian Pain Clinics: Survey and Future Recommendations. Pain Res Manag. 2023:6603625. doi: 10.1155/2023/6603625.
Bell LV, Fitzgerald SF, Flusk D, Poulin PA, Rash JA. (2023) Healthcare provider knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding opioids for chronic non-cancer pain in North America prior to the emergence of COVID-19: A systematic review of qualitative research. Can J Pain. 7(1):2156331. doi: 10.1080/24740527.2022.2156331.
Verret M, Lam NH, Fergusson DA, G Nicholls S, Turgeon AF, McIsaac DI, Gilron I, Hamtiaux M, Srichandramohan S, Al-Mazidi A, A Fergusson N, Hutton B, Zivkovic F, Graham M, Geist A, Lê M, Berube M, Poulin P, Shorr R, Daudt H, Martel G, McVicar J, Moloo H, Lalu MM; Perioperative Anesthesia Clinical Trials (PACT) group. (2023) Intraoperative pharmacologic opioid minimisation strategies and patient-centred outcomes after surgery: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open. 13(3):e070748.
