Diagnostic Accuracy of Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS), PEDS Developmental Milestones, and PEDS...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Early developmental screening is crucial for identifying potential delays in young children.
• Validated screening tools are essential for accurate assessment in diverse populations.
• The Parent's Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) suite is widely used but requires evaluation in specific cultural contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Parent's Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS), PEDS Developmental Milestones (PEDS:DM), and PEDS Combined for developmental screening.
• To assess the suitability of Hindi translations of these tools for Indian children under two years of age.

Main Methods:

• A hospital-based diagnostic accuracy study was conducted over 17 months.
• 180 children under 24 months were enrolled, excluding those with severe illnesses or known neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Standardized Hindi translations of PEDS and PEDS:DM were used as index tests, with the Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants (DASII) as the reference standard.

Main Results:

• The PEDS tool showed a sensitivity of 33.3% and specificity of 93.2%.
• PEDS:DM and PEDS Combined demonstrated 100% sensitivity but low specificity (34.5%).
• The Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants (DASII) identified only 3 children with developmental delay.

Conclusions:

• Hindi translations of PEDS, PEDS:DM, and PEDS Combined exhibit suboptimal diagnostic accuracy.
• These tools are not currently suitable for the developmental screening of Indian children under two years of age.
• Further research is needed to develop or adapt culturally appropriate and accurate developmental screening tools for this population.