Queen's University Belfast

Academic Institute

Elena Guiomar Garcia Jalon

E010

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the main cause of physical disability in childhood with a prevalence of 2.08 per 1,000 live births in Europe and 2.24 in NI (SCPE, 2002; Parkes et al., 2001). The Northern Ireland Cerebral Palsy Register (NICPR) it is one of the longest standing registers in Europe having surveyed CP for a 37 birth year span (1977-2014) identifying 2,302 of children with CP. A large European longitudinal project (SPARCLE) including Northern Ireland reported high prevalence of chronic pain in this population and its negative effect in their quality of life and participation (Parkinson et al 2013). However, studies reliant on participants’ report are not exempt of recruitment bias (Dickinson et al., 2012). There is a need to further probe prescribing regimes for children with CP. The aim of this case control study is to explore the potential of data linkage between NICPR and Business Service Organisation-Honest Broker Service (BSO-HBS) to assess pain in the CP population. Method: a case control study where data will be obtained by linking the NICPR database and information held by BSO-HBS including Enhanced Prescribing database, Index deprivation scores, Settlement bands, the Family Practitioner Services and Health and Care Index. The sample will include cases in the NICPR born in the years included in the SPARCLE studies. Information for age and sex matched samples in the general population will also be requested for comparison.

A large European longitudinal project (SPARCLE) including Northern Ireland reported high prevalence of chronic pain in this population and its negative effect in their quality of life and participation (Parkinson et al 2013). However, studies reliant on participants’ report are not exempt of recruitment bias (Dickinson et al., 2012). There is a need to further probe prescribing regimes for children with CP.

12/10/2015

TRE