V. Meade1, J. Sweeney1, L. Chandler2, B. Woodward3
1Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Physical Therapy, Provo, United States, 2University of Puget Sound, Physical Therapy, Tacoma, United States, 3Rocky Mountain Human Services, Occupational Therapy, Denver, United States
Background: Early intervention provides critical early experiences. Yet infants are not identified in a timely manner. Researchers estimate 16-18% have special health care needs, however up to 50% are not identified until Kindergarten, missing out on the benefits of early intervention. Physical therapists have the knowledge and skill to participate in planning and implementing methods of identifying children for early intervention services and supporting a vision of our profession that includes opportunities to serve both public health and individual needs.
Purpose: To evaluate infant development using a modified Parent Evaluation of Development Status (PEDS) of six questions and the Meade Movement Checklist (MMCL). Beginning with parent concerns may result in a more accurate process of finding children eligible for services during community surveillance.
Methods: Parents of 4 to 6-month-old infants attended community screening clinics, listed concerns on six questions (modified PEDS) and were then screened using the MMCL (n= 55). Individual questions were evaluated and MMCL results were compared to a gold standard (The Bayley Scales of Infant Development II).
Results: Significant correlation was found between infant risk-positive status, eligibility for special education or medical services and parent concerns (RR= 1.7; P =.003) A second screen using The MMCL demonstrated 66.6% sensitivity, 94.1% specificity, 85.7% positive predictive value (PPV) and 84.2% negative predictive value (NPV).
Conclusion(s): Four of the six questions on a modified parent concerns test accurately selected infants for a second screen, the MMCL. Evaluating parent concerns and risk- positive status increased positive predictive value (PPV) from 70% to 85.7% at the expense of decreased sensitivity.
Implications: Parent concerns regarding their infant’s development is a cost-effective method to determine who needs to be seen for a second screen. An algorithm is presented to increase infant screening effectiveness in countries worldwide.
Funding, acknowledgements: Grant Support: Early Childhood Initiative, Houston County, Minnesota
Keywords: Developmental Screening, Prevention, World community health
Topic: Paediatrics
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, Utah 84601
Committee: Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions institutional Review Board
Ethics number: 050403-03
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
