The IMPEED Study
About
The IMPEED Study is research aiming to determine the impact of having eczema on children's participation and achievement in schools, and to identify the challenges that these children and their families encounter in relation to this.
This study is being undertaken by Dr Aoife Cassidy as part of a Doctorate in Medicine with RCSI.
What is the IMPEED Study?
Eczema (also called ‘atopic dermatitis’) is a very common condition that affects children in Ireland. We know that having eczema has an impact on the quality of life and sleep, and that managing eczema takes a lot of time and work
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We want to see if having eczema has an impact on a child’s learning by comparing National Assessment Results in reading and maths (The Drumcondra tests or Sigma-T test or Micra-T tests) in children with eczema to the national results.
We will ask participants and their caregivers to complete a questionnaire (and possibly an interview) regarding having eczema and engaging in school and social activities.
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We hope this research will help us understand what impact eczema has on a child’s learning and school engagement, and if there are any strategies or supports we can use to make participating fully in school and other activities easier and more enjoyable for children with eczema.
Who can take part?
We are hoping to recruit 300 children and teenagers with eczema. Children from 1st to 6th Class in Primary School and 1st to 3rd year in Secondary School are eligible to participate. It does not matter how severe their eczema is or what treatment they are on.
What will I have to do?
There is no additional hospital visits or tests involved, and taking part will not change your child's eczema management.
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Primary School Participants:
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Fill in a questionnaire about your child's eczema and school, social and home life
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Keep a diary of any activities or schooldays missed due to eczema
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Share your child's National Assessment Results (Summer Tests in Reading & Maths) with the research team
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Secondary School Participants:​
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Fill in a questionnaire about your/your child's eczema and school, social and home life
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Some participants will also be invited to an optional phone interview with Dr Aoife Cassidy
Who are the researchers?
Prof Jonathan Hourihane
Consultant Paediatric Allergist, CHI
Professor of Paediatrics, RCSI
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Dr Aoife Cassidy
Paediatric Specialist Registrar, CHI
Senior Clinical Lecturer, RCSI
Medical Doctorate (MD) Scholar RCSI
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Dr Fiona Browne
Consultant Paediatric Dermatologist, CHI
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CHI: Children's Health Ireland
RCSI: Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
