CanadaCountries: Canada

Name

Canadian Paediatric Surveillance (CPSP)

Website

More information is available on the CPSP website at www.cps.ca/cpsp

Year established

1996

Association

Canadian Paediatric Society
Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada

Population under 15 years

7.5 million

General information

T he Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) was established in January 1996 as a joint pilot project under the auspices of the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control; now, the CPSP works in collaboration with the Centre for Healthy Human Development, Public Health Agency of Canada. The CPSP surveys more than 2,400 paediatricians and paediatric subspecialists each month to monitor rare diseases and conditions of approximately 7.5 million Canadian children. The program has steadily grown from three studies in 1996 to 10 in May 2007. So far, 34 conditions have been under surveillance. Over the last five years, the national initial response rate was approximately 82%, while the completion rate for follow-up detailed questionnaires reached an average of 94%.

From all outward appearances, the surveillance program has been an overwhelming success. In 2003, the CPSP undertook a formal program evaluation to answer important questions about the program’s strengths, weaknesses and future course of action. To this end, an international Expert Advisory Group was formed to review the program’s policies, objectives, targets, strategies, action plans, performance and output. After an extensive review, the program passed with flying colours. The Advisory Group “commended the CPSP on performing its core function well” saying that it “represents excellent value for money” and is “an important collaborative tool for surveillance, research and policy development… which was perceived as unique in Canada”.

Most encouragingly, CPSP results impacted important public health decisions, such as:

  • In a pre-vaccine era, the necrotizing fasciitis (NF) study confirmed that 60% of group A streptococcus-related NF cases had a documented history of varicella in the preceding month. Study results support the National Advisory Committee on Immunization statement for universal childhood varicella immunization and will be useful for monitoring the impact of this public health decision.
  • In 2005, a two-year study on lap-belt syndrome found a high morbidity rate among unrestrained children in motor vehicle accidents, with 25% left paraplegic. Subsequently, the study contributed to legislation in the province of Ontario and supported advocacy by the Canadian Paediatric Society that all provinces/territories adopt proper child restraints in motor vehicles and booster seat legislation.

The CPSP will continue to stimulate national epidemiological research to advance knowledge and improve the health of children and youth.

Conditions studied

Current studies include

Acute flaccid paralysis, adverse drug reactions – serious and life-threatening, congenital myotonic dystrophy, congenital cytomegalovirus infection, head injury secondary to suspected child maltreatment (abuse or neglect), kernicterus, medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency, non-type 1 diabetes mellitus, severe combined immunodeficiency, transfusion-related acute lung injury.

Contact

Louise Painchaud
CPSP Senior Coordinator
2305 St. Laurent Blvd.
Ottawa ON  K1G 4J8

Tel: 613-526-9397 Fax: 613-526-3332
Email: cpsp@cps.ca