Mainz Longitudinal Cohort Study for Prevention in Childhood (PIK)

Project period: 2013 - 2017

This project was part of the ikidS I project.

A project report on PIK is included in the final report on ikidS I (in German).

Background

In addition to the primary prevention of diseases, the early detection of diseases as a secondary prevention measure is a key component of paediatric practice. The aims are not only to prevent diseases, but also to improve the prognosis and avoid long-term damage. Early childhood developmental deficits and health impairments can have a decisive impact on the course of life and quality of life in later years. In the context of secondary prevention, there is an increasing demand not only for the early diagnosis of physical illnesses, but also for the early identification of developmental and behavioural disorders.

Objectives

The PIK cohort is a birth cohort of children born in 2007 and 2008. It examines the early detection of diseases, developmental disorders, and mental health concerns, as well as the evaluation of measures for primary and secondary prevention.

Project Procedure

The project was based on data collected on newborns in the Mainz and Rheinhessen regions at the time of birth. The first parent survey was conducted in February 2010, when the children were three years old. Further surveys were carried out when the children were four and six years old. These surveys focused in particular on developmental disorders, chronic health conditions, accidents, and growth. At the time of the final survey, the children in the PIK cohort were approximately eight to nine years old. This follow-up parent survey was intended to provide insights into how successfully the children had transitioned to school and adjusted to school life. The survey also assessed how the children’s health had developed after starting school and what educational support and health care services they had received by that time.

Funding

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Contact

Prof. Dr. Michael S. Urschitz, EU-MSc. (Principal investigator)

E-Mail: urschitz@uni-mainz.de