AboutKidsHealth.ca launches a website that offers in-depth information about scoliosis.
Toronto, ON, June 29, 2011 – AboutKidsHealth.ca announced it has launched sites dedicated to teens with scoliosis and their parents. Written in collaboration with the orthopedic experts at The Hospital for Sick Children and throughout Canada, AboutKidsHealth.ca now offers information about scoliosis in teenagers concerning the symptoms, diagnosis, complications, and treatment. The information is designed to help young people who have scoliosis understand their condition and make decisions about whether to have surgery.
Scoliosis is a condition where the spine is curved. This curve can lead to changes in a child or teenager’s shoulders, ribcage, pelvis, waist, and the overall shape of her back. Most scoliosis occurs at the onset of puberty, around ages 10 to 16 years. Scoliosis affects 2% to 3% of children in this age group. Larger curves are more common in girls. Despite being a relatively common condition, it is sometimes difficult to find reliable, detailed, yet easy to understand information about scoliosis.
“This site has been designed based on extensive interviews with teens and families to determine exactly what information they need to make important decisions about scoliosis surgery”, says Dr. James Wright, Surgeon-in-Chief at The Hospital for Sick Children. “This site provides the best evidence in terms parent and teenagers can understand about risks and benefits of surgery.”
“The scoliosis resource centres for parents and youth contemplating scoliosis surgery are unique. They provide comprehensive, evidence-based information and a decision support tool in a manner that engages readers. It includes interactive animations, videos, and other multimedia material that illustrate what to expect and the experiences of youth who have undergone surgery,” says Dr. Ross Hetherington, Director of AboutKidsHealth.
“The Canadian Institutes of Health Research are proud to support this website, a first of its kind,” says Dr. Michael Kramer, Scientific Director of CIHR’s Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health. “It is key to share health knowledge with young persons affected by scoliosis through the internet, the information source with which this generation is familiar and comfortable.”
AboutKidshealth.ca is the leading Canadian online source for trusted child health information. Developed in the Learning Institute of The Hospital for Sick Children in collaboration with over 300 paediatric health specialists, the site provides parents, children, and community health care providers with evidence-based information about everyday health and complex medical conditions. The scope and scale of AboutKidsHealth is unique in the world. AboutKidsHealth adheres to rigorous quality standards for the creation and review of health information. Accessibility is ensured with attention to readability, the use of in-line glossaries, and extensive use of medical illustration and animation, audio, video, and other evolving new media techniques.
For the past 10 years, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has supported better health and healthcare for Canadians. As the Government of Canada’s health research investment agency, CIHR enables the creation of evidence-based knowledge and its transformation into improved treatments, prevention and diagnoses, new products and services, and a stronger, patient-oriented healthcare system. Composed of 13 internationally recognized institutes, CIHR supports more than 13,600 health researchers and trainees across Canada.
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For more information on AboutKidsHealth.ca, please contact
AboutKidsHealth at The Hospital for Sick Children
Please visit www.aboutkidshealth.ca
susan.mackay@sickkids.ca
Tel: 416 318 -5165
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
David Coulombe, Media Relations
Tel: 613-941-4563