Citation

Linet MS, Byrne J, Willis GB, Wacholder S, Forman MR. Paediatr. Perinat. Epidemiol. 2007; 21(2): 169-178.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-3016.2007.00792.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We and others have postulated that modifications to epidemiological methods and tools could improve understanding of childhood cancer aetiology. We describe features of paediatric cancer that influence study design and data collection strategies, and examine determinants of the reproducibility and accuracy of mothers' responses to questionnaires, which are the primary source of risk factor information. Two focus group sessions with mothers of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and two with mothers of children with brain tumours were conducted to explore: the optimal time of day, method of administration, and location for the interview; the availability of alternative data sources; the interval between paediatric cancer diagnosis and epidemiological interview; and other features which may affect maternal interview responses.