Navigating transition: A mixed methods study protocol for understanding chronic pain, resilience, and well-being among Canadian Armed Forces Veterans, families, and service providers

Introduction Transitioning from military to civilian life is often challenging for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans, and chronic pain further complicates reintegration and wellbeing. Family members and service providers play critical but understudied roles in this process. Methods This mixed-methods study combines secondary analysis of the previous dataset with new qualitative interviews. Quantitative analyses will describe characteristics of Veterans with chronic pain and assess associations between pain severity and transition outcomes using regression models. Qualitative interviews with Veterans (n=10), family members (n=10), and service providers (n=10) will explore pain management, barriers and facilitators to care, and resilience strategies, analyzed using both deductive (framework-guided) and inductive thematic approaches. Results Findings will identify correlates of chronic pain and transition outcomes, as well as systemic gaps and resilience-enabling supports across the transition continuum. Discussion This study is the first in Canada to examine chronic pain in Veterans’ transition through a multi-system lens inclusive of family and provider perspectives. Grounded in resilience frameworks, the design addresses individual, relational, and structural influences on post-service adjustment. Anticipated findings will inform targeted interventions, caregiver supports, and provider education to strengthen resilience and improve care coordination for Veterans with chronic pain.