%0 Journal Article
%T A framework for measurement and harmonization of pediatric multiple sclerosis etiologic research studies: The Pediatric MS Tool
%A Amit Bar-Or
%A Brenda Banwell
%A Bryna Shatenstein
%A Catherine M Tansey
%A Christina Wolfson
%A David L O¡¯Riordan
%A Evangeline Wassmer
%A Georg E Matt
%A Heather E Hanwell
%A Isabel Fortier
%A Maura Pugliatti
%A Ming Lim
%A Paul K Schneider
%A Rinze F Neuteboom
%A Sandra Magalhaes
%J Multiple Sclerosis Journal
%@ 1477-0970
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1352458518783345
%X While studying the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) in children has several methodological advantages over studying etiology in adults, studies are limited by small sample sizes. Using a rigorous methodological process, we developed the Pediatric MS Tool-Kit, a measurement framework that includes a minimal set of core variables to assess etiological risk factors. We solicited input from the International Pediatric MS Study Group to select three risk factors: environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure, sun exposure, and vitamin D intake. To develop the Tool-Kit, we used a Delphi study involving a working group of epidemiologists, neurologists, and content experts from North America and Europe. The Tool-Kit includes six core variables to measure ETS, six to measure sun exposure, and six to measure vitamin D intake. The Tool-Kit can be accessed online (www.maelstrom-research.org/mica/network/tool-kit). The goals of the Tool-Kit are to enhance exposure measurement in newly designed pediatric MS studies and comparability of results across studies, and in the longer term to facilitate harmonization of studies, a methodological approach that can be used to circumvent issues of small sample sizes. We believe the Tool-Kit will prove to be a valuable resource to guide pediatric MS researchers in developing study-specific questionnair
%K Multiple sclerosis
%K pediatrics
%K etiology
%K risk factors
%K questionnaires
%K sunlight
%K vitamin D
%K tobacco smoke pollution
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1352458518783345