Grant awarded to PhD student for study on chronic pain accommodations for low-wage workers

A woman with long, wavy brown hair, wearing a tan sweater and a necklace, smiles while standing in front of a brick wall.

The UNC School of Nursing is proud to announce that Randi McArthur, BSN, RN, has been awarded an NINR F31 grant for her project titled, “Exploring Work Accommodations for Low-Wage Workers with Chronic Pain-Related Conditions: A Multi-Level Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study.”

This project will take place over two years, beginning on July 1, 2024, and concluding on June 30, 2026, with a total funding amount of $77,714. McArthur’s research will be conducted under the sponsorship of Shawn Kneipp, PhD, RN, ANP, APHN-BC.

Low-wage workers often face significant challenges when managing chronic pain-related conditions, and they are less likely to utilize work accommodations that could aid in managing these conditions. This underutilization contributes to ongoing cycles of health issues and job instability. McArthur’s study aims to explore the factors at both the employer and worker levels that influence the use of these accommodations. By identifying where the system breaks down, the study hopes to provide insights that can lead to meaningful policy changes.