| Study Title |
A38 National Poisons Information Centre Database |
| Data Owner |
National Poisons Information Centre (www.poisons.ie) |
| Description |
Data are collected on all enquiries to the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC). These are usually telephone enquiries, but some are eceived by e-mail or post. |
| Primary Function |
To monitor and report on trends in poisoning in Ireland. |
| Key Variables |
ID Other; Sex; Age Yr; County |
| Themes |
Health; Demographics |
| Unit Of Observation |
Enquiry, primarily from doctors and healthcare professionals.The public can enquire through the Public Poisons Information Line (Tel: (01) 809 2166). |
| Start Date |
Aggregate data (annual reports) available from 1966. Computerised data available from 1993. |
| Frequency |
Continuous |
| Target Population |
Enquiry, primarily from doctors and healthcare professionals.The public can enquire through the Public Poisons Information Line (Tel: (01) 809 2166). |
| Format |
A separate record is created for each enquiry. Some enquiries are about multiple patients, while some patients may generate multiple enquiries. |
| Method |
Paper-based forms initially, then transferred to computer. |
| Most Recent Publication |
2010. See:
- National Poisons Information Centre (2010) Annual Report 2010. Available at: www.poisons.ie/page.asp?pageId=20 |
| Access Further Information |
National Poisons Information Centre
Beaumont Hospital
Dublin 9
Tel: (01) 809 2566
E-mail: patriciacasey@beaumont.ie |
| Notes |
The NPIC collects national data, but is not contacted about every case of poisoning. All hospital emergency departments have access to an online clinical toxicology database and may not need to telephone the NPIC for advice. For the period 2000-2009 inclusive, the NPIC have complete data on enquiries received between 8am-10pm. Enquiries made between 10pm-8am are outsourced, so that the NPIC has limited data only on these calls. Complete data on all enquiries are available since 2010. A total of 336,153 enquiries were received between 1966 and 1992 inclusive, and 224,721 between 1993 and 2010 inclusive. In 2010, 50% of enquiries concerned children under 10 years old.
Poisons Centres in many countries publish annual reports. The EAPCCT website has links to many European Poisons Centres: www.eapcct.org/
show.php?page=links
The American Association of Poison Control Centres publishes its annual report in the journal Clinical Toxicology. Abstract of Annual Report 2010 available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22165864 |