Clermont DionnePh.D.

Clermont E. Dionne is professor in the Faculty of Medicine of Université Laval and chair of its Department of Social and Preventive Medicine. He is also a regular investigator in the Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Axis of the Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval and in the Quebec Centre of Excellence in Aging (CEVQ). He holds a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Washington (School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA). His research program focuses on the epidemiology of musculoskeletal pain, a problem that imposes one of the heaviest health burdens on Western societies. A member of numerous national and international committees, Dr. Dionne is the Epidemiology Section Editor of Pain, the premier pain journal. Recently, he chaired the local organizing committee of the International Forum for Back and Neck Pain Research in Primary Care that was held in Quebec City in July 2019.

Identifying the causes of musculoskeletal pain and its consequences

In many cases, the source of pain cannot be identified, and its intensity is only weakly correlated with radiological evidence. Many factors are involved in the perception of pain and in its functional and social consequences, including biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors. Much remains to be done to understand the effects of these factors and their interactions.

Offer the best treatments to the right patients at the right time

For about 10% of patients, musculoskeletal pain becomes chronic. The development, validation, and evaluation of first-line prognostic tools are essential to make the most of available treatments.

Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of treatments

Many interventions are offered to counter musculoskeletal pain. It is important to identify those that are supported by sound scientific evidence, and to determine their conditions of application.