title: The prevalence, impact and cost of chronic non-cancer pain in Irish primary schoolchildren (PRIME-C): protocol for a longitudinal school-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has indicated that pain influences children's daily lives, resulting in absence from school, sleep problems, poor school performance and problems with social activities. Our study aims to characterise the nature, extent, impact and cost of chronic pain among Irish children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using cluster-systematic random sampling, primary schools will be invited to participate and 6000 5-12-year-olds asked to complete questionnaires in school classrooms, at time points 1 year apart. Questionnaires will use internationally valid psychometric measures to assess a range of quality of life factors and chronic pain indicators among children, with corresponding parental/primary caregiver questions, which will be completed at home. Data will also be gathered on the cost of chronic pain. Space will be given for comments on how pain impacts on participants' lives and possible coping mechanisms.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Ethical approval has been granted by the Research Ethics Committee, National University of Ireland, Galway. Dissemination of results will be via journal articles and conference presentations on the various aspects of the study (ie, prevalence, impact and economic cost of chronic pain among 5-12-year-olds living in Ireland).
authors.affiliation: Centre for Pain Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Siobhán
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Higgins
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Edel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Saoirse
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: NicGabhainn
authors.affiliation: Discipline of General Practice, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ciaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Centre for Pain Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: McGuire
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; HEALTH ECONOMICS; PAEDIATRICS