Current Projects > Multi-Topic Survey

Multi-Topic Survey 2013

We are delighted to give you the opportunity to share your knowledge and clinical experiences with us again via the 2013 Multi-Topic Survey!

The 2013 Multi-Topic Survey has 3 topics led by Australian paediatricians; Autism Spectrum Disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Oral Health. There is also a short section on E-health. The online survey has been sent to all APRN members in April 2013 and we are still accepting surveys! The survey only takes approximately 10 minutes and is vital to our work.

To take part in the APRN 2013 Multi-Topic Survey please email us at aprn.paeds@rch.org.au

Below is an outline of each study, how your answers will provide valuable information. We understand not all paediatricians will see children with all these conditions, you will be able to skip these section in this case. Your answers on other sections of the survey (e.g. E-Health and Oral Health) are important to the APRN.

1. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Katrina Williams, Vivian Bayl, Catherine Marraffa & Natalie Silove

The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has been increasing over the past 3 decades with current estimates being around 1% of the population. Through this survey we aim to find out how paediatricians in Australia diagnose and manage ASD and who they involve in these processes. Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) are frequently sought by parents who have children with ASD. We are interested in knowing more about how paediatricians manage families who use CAM. The results will help us to plan a study on CAM.

2. CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

Mike South, Sabine Hennel, Kathy Rowe, Lionel Lubitz, Susan Towns, Donald Payne & Adam Scheinberg.

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in children and adolescents is becoming increasingly recognised. We want to know how your patients present clinically with CFS/ME in your practice and your approach to diagnosis and management. The information gained will help inform future research into effective, evidence-based management of this condition.

3. ORAL HEALTH

Sharon Goldfeld & Archana Koirala

Dental decay is on the rise in children and there are increasing inequalities. The Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons have joined forces to support better prevention, promotion and dental services for children, but we know little about the oral health practice of Australian paediatricians. Given the prevalence of dental caries, it seems important to know how paediatricians are addressing the oral health of children in their practice. This information will lead to identification of what is done well, and what needs improvement in order to develop better training opportunities and enable more research.

Ethics Statement
It is likely that completing the survey will provide you with no direct benefit. However you may appreciate the opportunity to express an opinion or to describe your practice patterns and management strategies. We do not foresee any adverse consequences of participating in the research project and do not expect that the questions in this survey will cause you distress. The only inconvenience caused will be the time to complete the survey.

Data will be identifiable however it will be stored securely and only the APRN steering committee members and research assistants will have access to it. Your name may be used to contact you regarding specific projects but only if you indicate you are interested in the project/s. When your data are provided to each topic team for analysis your first name and surname are removed. We will never report individual responses. We will hold your information for seven years and then it will be destroyed.

The findings of this survey will be provided online at the APRN website and in publications. The source of funding for this research project is the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.

If you have any concerns about the project or the way it is being conducted, and would like to speak to someone independent of the project, please contact: Director, Research Development & Ethics, The Royal Children’s Hospital on telephone: (03) 9345 5044