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BMC Pediatrics
Published in: BMC Pediatrics 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Study protocol

Study protocol for an evaluation of ASDetect - a Mobile application for the early detection of autism

Authors: Josephine Barbaro, Maya Yaari

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) can be reliably diagnosed by 24 months of age. However, despite the well-known benefits of early intervention, there is still a research-practice gap in the timely identification of ASC, particularly in low-resourced settings. The Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS) tool, which assesses behavioural markers of autism between 12 to 24 months of age, has been implemented in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) settings, with excellent psychometric properties. ASDetect is a free mobile application based on the SACS, which is designed to meet the need for an effective, evidence-based tool for parents, to learn about children’s early social-communication development and assess their child’s ‘likelihood’ for ASC.

Study aims

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of ASDetect in the early detection of children with ASC. A secondary aim is to assess ASDetect’s acceptability and parental user experience with the application.

Methods

Families are recruited to download the application and participate in the study via social media, health professionals (e.g., MCH nurses, paediatricians) and word of mouth. All participating caregivers complete a demographic questionnaire, survey regarding their user experience, and the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), an autism screening questionnaire; they are also invited to participate in focus groups. Children identified at ‘high likelihood’ for ASC based on the ASDetect results, the SRS-2 or parental and/or professional concerns undergo a formal, gold-standard, diagnostic assessment. Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses will be used to assess psychometric properties of ASDetect. Thematic analyses will be used to explore themes arising in the focus groups to provide insights regarding user experiences with the app. Multiple regression analyses will be carried out to determine the extent to which demographic factors, parental stress and beliefs on health surveillance and child results on ASDetect are associated with the parental user-experience of the application.

Discussion

With a strong evidence-base and global access, ASDetect has the potential to empower parents by providing them with knowledge of their child’s social-communication development, validating and reassuring any parental concerns, and supporting them in communicating with other health professionals, ultimately enhancing child and family outcomes and well-being.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Footnotes
1
Identity-first language (e.g. autistic individuals) is the preferred language of many autistic people and their parents (3–4). However, as there is no universally accepted way of describing autism (4) the preferences of “person-first” language amongst individuals and parents in the autism community is also acknowledged in this paper. Thus, the terms “autistic individuals” and “children on the spectrum” will be used in this paper to reflect the autism community’s spectrum of preferences in terminology.
 
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Metadata
Title
Study protocol for an evaluation of ASDetect - a Mobile application for the early detection of autism
Authors
Josephine Barbaro
Maya Yaari
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-019-1888-6

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