Informing clinical practice and pandemic preparedness at The Hospital for Sick Children using the POPCORN COVID-19 database

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges in the provision of optimal patient care, including at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). For instance, there was a lack of evidence regarding appropriate viral testing and interventions, and the virus was also associated with adverse health events occurring well beyond acute infection. In response, SickKids has been a collaborating site of POPCORN, a large hospital-based consortium of sixteen tertiary care paediatric hospitals. The consortium has collected rich clinical data regarding both short- and long-term outcomes of COVID-19 (e.g., long COVID, disability, mental health, socio-emotional functioning). The consortium also offers a framework which can be adapted for future pathogens of pandemic potential. The aim of this project will be to investigate the POPCORN COVID-19 database and its overall quality, and to describe the POPCORN COVID-19 population. Deliverables of the project will include a report to SickKids clinicians and administrators to inform clinical practice regarding short- and long-term outcomes of COVID-19, and also to recommend areas for database quality improvement. Novel pathogens will continue to emerge and pose a threat to child health, and completion of the proposed project will strengthen pandemic preparedness at SickKids by facilitating high-quality and rapid knowledge generation.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jennifer Brooks

Student:

Partner:

The Hospital for Sick Children

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Public administration

University:

University of Toronto

Program: