Red Flags Focus Groups
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Red Flags: Developing a questionnaire to facilitate early detection of Cerebral Palsy, based on early parental observations.
IRAS ID
261048
Contact name
Jessica J E Baggaley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
BH170006, BH Number; 2019-001327-12, EudraCT Number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Parent and health professional’s observations of the earliest emerging signs of Cerebral Palsy: A series of focus groups developing an early screening tool for Cerebral Palsy.
This study aims to develop a new screening tool for Cerebral Palsy (CP). Currently, infants not picked up by the NHS at birth as at risk of developing CP rely on their parents and health care professionals to recognise the infants’ symptoms. However, research has shown parents often feel ‘ignored’ or ‘dismissed’ by health care professionals when raising their concerns about their child’s development. Currently the tools available for measuring motor development were created using motor milestones. However, motor milestones vary within and between populations. The variation in motor milestones means the assessments need to be carried out multiple times to detect emerging motor problems. The time gap between assessments can resulting in referral being delayed for months. We aim to integrate early parental concerns with health care professional’s expert knowledge to develop a new screening tool that does not rely solely on motor milestones. To develop the screening tool, we will recruit parents and health care professionals to take part in focus groups. Five focus groups will be conducted at Newcastle University. Each focus group will last 1-2 hours. Participants will only be able to attend appropriate focus groups. For example, parents will not attend health care professional focus groups and parents who do not have a child with Cerebral Palsy will not attend focus groups for parents of children with Cerebral Palsy. Participants will be asked to 1) rate the validity of observations presented by the research team, 2) discuss their own observations and 3) provide feedback on the screening tools design.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
19/WA/0328
Date of REC Opinion
10 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion