Story perspectives

Veterans' Pain Treatment Ignoring Gender Differences, Study Reveals

2/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

A study on chronic pain management for Canadian veterans finds no research in the past two decades on how sex or gender affects treatment.
Joy MacDermid, professor at Western University, notes 14% of Canadian veterans are female and urges tailored treatments.
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence now requires researchers to consider sex and gender.
Alice Aiken, a veteran and researcher, stresses that understanding differences is crucial for healthcare.

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Story summary

A study on chronic pain management for Canadian veterans finds no research in the past two decades on how sex or gender affects treatment.
Joy MacDermid, professor at Western University, notes 14% of Canadian veterans are female and urges tailored treatments.
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence now requires researchers to consider sex and gender.
Alice Aiken, a veteran and researcher, stresses that understanding differences is crucial for healthcare.