Resources for Investigators
The CPSP supports its study and survey investigators in a variety of ways.
Guidance: Before, during, and after a CPSP study or one-time survey, investigators have access to guidance from the Scientific Steering Committee, the CPSP’s medical affairs director, and the manager of surveillance.
Scientific review: The CPSP Scientific Steering Committee provides rigorous scientific review of study proposals and one-time surveys.
International collaboration: The CPSP can facilitate the opportunity to collaborate with paediatric surveillance units worldwide through its membership in the International Network of Paediatric Surveillance Units.
Information on funding: All studies and one-time surveys must be funded to cover costs. The CPSP can provide limited assistance in obtaining and coordinating arrangements for funding.
Identification of a Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) co-investigator: A PHAC (or Health Canada) employee participates in all CPSP project teams, as either a co-investigator or a collaborator. The CPSP will help identify an appropriate PHAC/Health Canada co-investigator.
Support with data disclosure applications: Investigators must complete an application under the federal Privacy Act that allows for the disclosure of the surveillance data to investigators from outside of PHAC for research or statistical purposes. The CPSP will supply the investigators with the necessary information and forms. The designated PHAC/Health Canada co-investigator can facilitate this application.
Support with research ethics board applications and data transfer agreements: All CPSP studies must receive approval from the Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada Research Ethics Board before they can proceed. The CPSP, with the designated PHAC/Health Canada co-investigator, will assist investigators to complete the application. Investigators are strongly encouraged to also pursue research ethics board approval from other institutions of their choice (often their local institution or university). For data collection in Alberta or Quebec, data transfer agreements (DTAs) and research ethics board approvals will be required from local institutions. The manager of surveillance can provide more details on how to obtain DTAs in these respective jurisdictions.
Editing and translation of study/survey documents: The CPSP will design and edit necessary study and one-time survey documents (hard copy and electronic) and will provide translation for French language forms.
Launch announcement: The CPSP announces the launch of new studies and one-time surveys in the CPS Blog and/or CPS e-news.
Handling monthly reporting forms and reminders: The CPSP sends monthly case report forms to all participants and other professional groups relevant to the study. Monthly reporting forms filled out by participants will be collected and processed by the CPSP and regular reminders will be sent to non-responders.
Sending clinical questionnaires: The CPSP sends clinical questionnaires to participants who indicate that they have seen a case and sends follow-up reminders, as required, tothose who have not returned detailed questionnaires within a suitable timeframe.
Database management: The CPSP manages the electronic database that records the number of cases received from monthly reporting forms and responses to the detailed questionnaires. All data collected through the CPSP is sent to a secure PHAC File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site. PHAC has the authority for, and the ownership of, CPSP surveillance data; therefore, the designated PHAC/Health Canada co-investigator facilitates the investigators’ access to the surveillance data.
Dissemination of results: The CPSP supports the investigators’ knowledge translation activities through the following:
- Publishing a summary of CPSP study and one-time survey results authored by the investigators in the annual CPSP Results
- Inviting the submission of study or one-time survey highlights in Paediatrics & Child Health
- Highlighting studies and one-time surveys in relevant CPSP oral and poster presentations at national and international conferences
- Supporting the investigators’ submissions of posters, abstracts, and presentations to national and international conferences
- Facilitating access to knowledge translation tools through the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) including the CPS Blog, social media channels, communication with CPS committees and sections, the journal Paediatrics & Child Health, and the CPS online learning platform Pedagogy.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The CPSP does not provide data entry and/or analysis services. Both data entry and data analysis are the full responsibility of the investigators.
