CTN 340: Living with HIV & Chronic Pain in Canada
A Community-Based, Mixed Methods, Multi-sectoral, Interdisciplinary, and Intersectional Consultation
About the Study
PANACHE is a community-based study that builds on the PANACHE Ontario study (2019), with the report available in English and French, and the connections of Realize, a national HIV organization focused on research, education, policy, and practice change. The study aims to identify the most significant unmet needs for care and support among older people living with HIV in Canada by evaluating the contribution of biological and social determinants of health and service access.
Background
One in five Canadians live with chronic pain, which is defined as pain that lasts or recurs for longer than 3 months. Chronic pain is much more common in people living with HIV — as many as four in five may experience the condition. This is largely attributed to a combination of persistent HIV-related inflammation, neurotoxic effects of the virus, and side effects from antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The two most common types of chronic pain in people living with HIV are musculoskeletal pain and pain of the outer nerves (neuropathy). But evidence suggests that chronic pain in people living with HIV is under-recognised or under-treated, with many patients going from doctor to doctor seeking relief. Some barriers to adequate management of chronic pain include a lack of an objective way to measure pain, reluctance to talk about pain with their physician among people with HIV and lastly, clinicians’ lack of knowledge about pain assessment and treatment practices.
Failure to access early care for a painful condition can increase the risk of pain becoming chronic. People living with HIV manage chronic pain in myriad ways.
Study Approach
Since chronic pain in people living with HIV is complex, it needs to be addressed from multiple angles — biological, psychological, and social. CTN 340 uses a multidimensional approach and combines different methods. To begin, the team built a Pain Relief Working Group made up of people with lived experience and knowledge users who guide all stages of the study, analysis, and interpretation.
The study was conducted in 2 phases: one quantitative and one qualitative.
Phase 1 involved an online bilingual survey with 500 participants. The survey was designed to understand their experiences with chronic pain and how factors like gender, location, and age influence their awareness of and access to treatment options.
Phase 2 involved analyzing the survey results to identify key findings and present them in visual formats. The team held six workshops with diverse groups of people living with HIV and chronic pain, including people living in non-urban areas, racialized people, and people who use substances. Clinicians and non-profit staff supporting aging people living with HIV were also included. Workshop participants ranked the key findings from the survey by noting areas of agreement, disagreement, and gaps. These rankings will be summarized in a report comparing individual survey responses with collective workshop insights.
By collecting, analyzing, and discussing the diverse experiences of people living with HIV and chronic pain, the CTN 340 team aims to help policy makers and clinicians strategize about how to best allocate, organize, and make accessible chronic pain-related services.
Preliminary Results
In a poster presented at the 2025 Patient’s Voice conference in Vancouver, the team shared that people living with HIV employ diverse resilience and coping strategies to deal with chronic pain, including physical activity, hobbies, and avoidance/isolation. Overall, the analysis showed that access to equitable, multidisciplinary care is limited, highlighting the need for tailored services, especially for low-income individuals.
Additional Information
If you would like to take part in this study or want more information, please email painhivcanada.dlsph@utoronto.ca or visit the study website: https://rise.articulate.com/share/VgBm2OlqV2Y8PyqFJD3Jy7jMHKYNDxLz#/
Eligibility Requirements
Required
- Is living with HIV
- Is 60 years of age or older by the end of the calendar year of participation
- Lives in Canada
- Speaks and understand English or French
Investigators
Here’s who is leading this study.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Email info@ctnplus.ca.
Related Publications
Participating Sites
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
- Site Investigator
-
12345 Street Name,
City Name, BC V3M 9J3
- Contact Person
- contact@email.com
- 1 (604) 555-9999
Related Studies
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CTNPT 054: Falls in older persons with HIV
Falls in older persons with HIV: Frequency, risk factors and feasibility of a future interventional trial