APCP member, Vicky Mercer, provides an update on research to develop a tool to facilitate the identification and assessment of children with serious musculoskeletal disease.
The pGALSplus study began in October 2018 and is progressing well despite delays due to Covid 19. It is now into its second phase in Newcastle.
The study's aim is to create a ‘toolkit’ based on pGALS (paediatric Gait, Arms, Legs and Spine), to be called pGALSplus, that will include screening questions and assessment, in order to facilitate identification of children with serious musculoskeletal pathology, and signpost them to the correct service. The toolkit is aimed at professionals who may not have had extensive paediatric training, but who may see children as part of their practice.
Developed in Phase 1, pGALSplus is currently being piloted in groups of children across 3 UK sites, within 4 selected disease groups, as well as healthy controls, to describe its feasibility and acceptability. Over 70% of the target number of participants have been assessed, and results indicate that the assessment is quick to complete and is acceptable to both children and their parents/guardians. Phase 2 also aims to develop training resources to accompany the toolkit and enable its use in future clinical practice, and will include videos, photographs and useful adjuncts. The assessment will initially be targeted at clinicians working within the community setting. pGALSplus is an NIHR Portfolio adopted study, sponsored by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and is funded with an unrestricted educational grant from Sanofi Genzyme.
Developed in Phase 1, pGALSplus involves recruitment across 3 UK sites, within 4 selected disease groups, as well as healthy controls, in order to describe feasibility and acceptability. Recruitment has gone well, to date we have assessed over 70 percent of our target number of participants, and the assessment is proving to be quick to complete and acceptable to both children and their parents/guardians. Phase 2 also aims to develop training resources to accompany the toolkit and enable its use in future clinical practice, and will include videos, photographs and useful adjuncts. The assessment will initially be targeted at clinicians working within the community setting.
pGALSplus is an NIHR Portfolio adopted study, sponsored by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and is funded with an unrestricted educational grant from Sanofi Genzyme.
Vicky Mercer MCSP
Research Associate pGALSplus