The CAPNET multi-center data set for child physical abuse: Rationale, methods and scope.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric subspecialties
• Child abuse research
• Medical data infrastructure

Background:

• Child Abuse Pediatrics (CAP) became a certified subspecialty in 2006.
• CAP research is historically underfunded despite its impact on child health.
• Previous multi-center research networks in CAP have been limited in scope and duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the rationale, development, and scope of the CAPNET research network.
• To describe the CAPNET data registry and its associated data resources.
• To support Child Abuse Pediatrics-focused research through a collaborative network.

Main Methods:

• Established inclusion criteria, common data elements, and data quality assurance through consensus and iterative testing.
• Developed data sharing processes for children evaluated for physical abuse.
• Utilized an online data capture form for data abstraction.

Main Results:

• CAPNET is abstracting data for children under 10 years old evaluated for physical abuse across 10 US pediatric centers.
• Data collected includes demographics, medical/social history, examination findings, testing, diagnoses, and outcomes.
• Validated data is broadly available to Child Abuse Pediatrics investigators.

Conclusions:

• CAPNET provides a novel data resource for the Child Abuse Pediatrics research community.
• The network is expected to enhance both the quantity and quality of CAP-focused research.
• This infrastructure supports collaborative efforts to advance the field of Child Abuse Pediatrics.