Intensivists at CHEO study the role of vitamin D in children who are hospitalized and severely ill. Their research has recently demonstrated that lower levels of vitamin D worsen illness severity and prolong the length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit. Current and future research will focus on how to best optimize the vitamin D status of children admitted to the intensive care unit through pre-illness supplementation and post-illness rapid restoration strategies.
Research Projects
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Using Neuropsychological Profiling to Tailor Mental Health Care for Children and Youth: a Quality Improvement Project to Measure Feasibility
30/09/2024
This quality improvement study aimed to test the feasibility of an innovative care pathway in a pediatric outpatient mental health (OPMH) clinic that integrates neuropsychological profiling into individual psychotherapeutic care for children and youth. The project showed high participation and strong acceptability from patients, caregivers, and clinicians, with no adverse effects or disruptions to outpatient service flow, indicating the pathway is feasible and well‑received. The authors conclude that the next step is to evaluate clinical effectiveness in an experimental trial.
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The Otto Aufranc Award: Does Hip Arthroscopy at the Time of Periacetabular Osteotomy Improve the Clinical Outcome for the Treatment of Hip Dysplasia? A Multi-Center Randomized Clinical Trial
10/05/2024
This randomized controlled trial examined whether adding hip arthroscopy to periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) improves clinical outcomes for patients with symptomatic hip dysplasia. While all patients experienced significant functional improvement after surgery, there were no meaningful differences in patient‑reported outcomes at one year between those who underwent PAO alone and those who received concurrent arthroscopy. The findings suggest that routine arthroscopy at the time of PAO does not provide added short‑term clinical benefit, though longer‑term follow‑up is needed to assess potential differences over time.
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Are Single Limb Hopping Scores the Same When Performed in a Physical Education Class Versus a Laboratory Setting in Uninjured Adolescents?: Implications for Future Rehabilitation Guidelines for Adolescents With Knee Injuries
01/01/2024
This study examined whether uninjured adolescents achieve comparable single‑limb hopping scores when performing hop tests in a physical education class versus a controlled laboratory environment. Results showed that while most hop tasks were reproducible across settings, small location‑based differences emerged for certain hops, and males generally scored higher than females. Overall, the findings suggest that single‑limb hop tests can be reliably used in both school and lab settings, supporting their potential role in developing future rehabilitation guidelines for adolescent knee injuries.
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Impact of a Prenatal Vitamin D Supplementation Program on Vitamin D Deficiency, Rickets and Early Childhood Caries in an Alaska Native Population
22/09/2022
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Preventing symptomatic vitamin D deficiency and rickets among Indigenous infants and children in Canada
01/05/2022
Researchers
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Sasha Carsen
Scientist, CHEO Research Institute
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Dayre McNally
Senior Scientist, CHEO Research Institute
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Katie O’Hearn
Investigator, CHEO Research Institute
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Kathleen Pajer
Senior Scientist, CHEO Research Institute
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Kevin Smit
Investigator, CHEO Research Institute
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Leanne Ward
Senior Scientist, CHEO Research Institute
