BPSU Users' Workshop

25 April 2007
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, London

This April the BPSU held its second research workshop this followed the success of the first workshop held in 2005. The workshop aimed to allow 1) junior researchers to gain experience in presenting data, and to 2) encourage applications from clinicians and researchers who are interested in using the BPSU system.

The morning session consisted of speakers examining different aspects of surveillance. Ann-Marie Winstone presented the PIND study concentrating on the use of expert groups to determine an analytic case definition. Dr Pat Tookey explained how data linkage through the HIV survey is undertaken; Ms Catherine Goodall discussed the contribution of laboratory surveillance to the MRSA study. Dr Eileen Baildam of the scleroderma study explained how adult specialty groups can help in maximising ascertainment and Barney Foot highlighted the potential for collaboration between the BPSU and the British Ophthalmology Surveillance Unit.

After lunch we held 4 workshops on the themes of patient and carer involvement in paediatric research; setting up alternative reporting sources; developing a good research questionnaire and ethics, consent and data handling.

A variety of posters were also on display from current projects.

The workshop was attended by around 40 paediatricians and researchers, the feedback has been very positive and the BPSU will, if there is demand, hold similar such workshops in the future

Details on the presentations are available from the BPSU office