Early Detection and Intervention for Cerebral Palsy (EDI4CP).

Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) in research is a key focus of our active award, the HRB Irish Network for Children’s Clinical Trials (In4kids). We are now seeking KTA funding for a 0.6FTE PPI coordinator dedicated to our Cerebral Palsy (CP) Research programme in the network. This is a new national programme that will be rolled out later this year in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick. This project is the first phase in a planned programme of implementation research focused on early detection of cerebral palsy. It is funded by the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, based in the US.

Worldwide, cerebral palsy is the most common childhood physical disability, with an incidence of 2 to 3 per 1000 live births. There is now compelling evidence that early targeted intervention for CP in the first years of life, when neuroplasticity is optimal, can help restore function. However early diagnosis is critical and at present diagnosis is generally around 2 years of age. The aim of this project is to reduce the age of diagnosis. In a study in the US, the average age of diagnosis was reduced from 19.5 months to 9 months by implementing best practice guidelines. We believe that the children of Ireland deserve the best available research informed healthcare. The planned intervention consists of the implementation of standardised neurological assessments for high risk infants, education, and training for health care professionals and most importantly, parent communication and education.  We want parents to have the opportunity to offer their opinions on communication improvements and voice their needs for future improvements. We also wish to develop wraparound models of parent targeted education and parent support

Award Date

12 September 2022

Award Value

€59,869.00

Principal Investigator

Professor Geraldine Boylan

Host Institution

University College Cork

Scheme

Knowledge Translation Awards