My research is focused on the maintenance and improvement function in patients with chronic pain. I want them to be able to live their lives doing what’s important to them and what’s meaningful to them for as long as possible, if not forever.

Program of Research

April Hazard Vallerand Ph.D., RN, FAAN, College of Nursing Alumni Endowed Professor at Wayne State University, has focused her research on understanding the factors that affect functional status and the barriers to improving pain management for patients with pain in a variety of settings. Her latest research project, which was funded by the National Cancer Institute, focused on improving functional status in African Americans with cancer pain.

A recognized nursing leader and scholar, Dr. Vallerand is widely published on the topic of pain management, including: the maintenance and improvement of functional status in patients with chronic pain, pain-related disparities, cancer pain management, symptom clusters in patients with cancer, pharmacological management of pain, the use of opioids in the management of chronic pain, self-treatment of pain in the community, and the perceived control and coping in patients with chronic pain.

Current Research

Vallerand, A.H., Hasenau, S.M., Templin, T., & Shim, S.M. "Improving functional status in African Americans with cancer pain." Funded by the National Cancer Institute, RO1 CA149432-01A1, 4/1/11-3/31/14. $1,078,000.00.

Populations of interests

• Adults
• Men and women
• Minorities
• Caregivers

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