Research Stream 2: Childhood disability, impairment and pain
Study #1: Exploring the complex interplay between childhood disability, impairment, and chronic pain: Co-producing knowledge with children
Disabled children experience higher rates of chronic pain compared to their non-disabled peers. However, there has been limited research that has explored chronic In this arts-based study, we are learning how disabled children (aged 6-13 years) represent and narrate their experiences and understandings of chronic pain, impairment, and disability. Participants will create their very own body-map* to help share their stories of living with chronic pain, impairment, and disability. Knowledge produced through this research will help families, researchers and clinicians unravel the tangled and complicated relationships among chronic pain, impairment and disability.
* Body-map storytelling is an arts-based research method where participants fill in an outline of their body with drawings, words, or other details that help tell their story in a visual and creative way. Body-maps can be created independently or with support from someone else
Research Team
Dr. Gail Teachman, Principle Investigator, Western University
Dr. Katie Mah, Co-Investigator, Western University
Dr. Barbara Gibson, Co-Investigator, University of Toronto
Dr. Fiona Webster, Co-Investigator, Western University
Linda Zhang, MSc Student, Graduate Research Fellow, Western University
Agnes Mathew, PhD Student, Graduate Research Fellow, Western University
Funding Sources
Western Strategic Support (WSS) for CIHR Success, Seed Research Grant
VOICE Innovation Grant, Newton Foundation, McGill University
Study #2: Exploring the intersection of childhood disability, chronic pain, and impairment in health sciences and rehabilitation literature: a scoping review
Scoping reviews are a way to report on what is known in a focused area of study. We are conducting a scoping review, led by Linda Zhang as part of her Master’s research, to identify what is known about chronic pain in the context of childhood disability. The results of this review will help identify specific areas where more research is needed as well as areas where the knowledge available has not been informed by the perspectives of young people living with impairment, disability and chronic pain
Research Team
Linda Zhang, MSc Student, Lead and Graduate Research Fellow, Western University
Dr. Gail Teachman, Supervisor and Principle Investigator, Western University
Dr. Katie Mah, Co-Investigator, Western University
Dr. Katie Birnie, Advisor and Co-Investigator, University of Calgary
Dr. Fiona Webster, Advisor and Co-Investigator, Western University
Agnes Mathew, PhD Student, Graduate Research Fellow, Western University
Study #3: Stakeholder reflections on the results of a scoping review focused on childhood disability, chronic pain, and impairment in health sciences and rehabilitation literature.
Building on study #2 – a scoping review – we plan to conduct a formal consultation to consider whether and how the scoping review results resonate and align with key stakeholders (disabled youth, families, caregivers, service providers, researchers, disability advocates, policy decision-makers, etc. ). This stakeholder consultation will invite further perspectives on chronic pain and childhood disability, identify stakeholder research priorities, and help build knowledge in this area of research and practice.
Research Team
Linda Zhang, MSc Student, Lead and Graduate Research Fellow, Western University
Dr. Gail Teachman, Supervisor and Principle Investigator, Western University
Dr. Katie Mah, Co-Investigator, Western University
Dr. Katie Birnie, Advisor and Co-Investigator, University of Calgary
Dr. Fiona Webster, Advisor and Co-Investigator, Western University
Agnes Mathew, PhD Student, Graduate Research Fellow, Western University
Outputs
2023 Sept
Teachman G, Mah K. Childhood disability, impairment, and chronic pain: Critical intersections. CASPR (Critical Approaches to Scholarship in Pain Research) Webinar Series: Pain and critical disability studies. [minute 34.20]
2023 May
Mah K. Illustrating the abstract: Drawing as method in critical qualitative health research and applications to chronic pain scholarship. Critical Approaches to Scholarship in Pain Research Webinar Series [minute 38:48]