Medical and public health impacts

One of the most important successes of the CPSP is that the program created a Canadian national network of collaborative epidemiological research that includes paediatricians from all horizons.

Numerous studies and one-time surveys have led to important medical and public health actions throughout the years. Some of these are summarized in the following table:

The international comparison of haemorrhagic disease of the newborn of five national paediatric surveillance units illustrating the merit and importance of intramuscular vitamin K prophylaxis


The severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia study confirming many cases in term newborns and contributing to the revised CPS guidelines on the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia


The international adoption survey finding that knowledge about screening methods varied significantly with important gaps for tuberculosis and hepatitis B


The medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency study documenting the efficacy of newborn metabolic screening programs in detecting asymptomatic cases and allowing for early preventive measures (the two reported deaths during the course of the study did not occur in jurisdictions with screening programs)


The vitamin D deficiency rickets study confirming the importance of reinforcing the current CPS recommendation that exclusively breast-fed infants and children receive vitamin D supplementation


The lap-belt syndrome study leading to changes in legislation measures regarding the need for longer use of booster seats in children


The wheeled baby walker survey contributing to the total ban on their sale, import and advertisement in Canada