Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2025
10:32
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
18.5K
Construction and validation of ShaMaq developmental screening tool.
Shazia Maqbool1, Nick Brown2,3,4, Aisha Farid1
1Department of Developmental & Behavioural Paediatrics, University of Child Health Sciences, The Children's Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
Child: Care, Health and Development
|May 8, 2023
Summary
The ShaMaq developmental screening tool (SDST) effectively identifies developmental delays in children aged 6 weeks to 5.5 years. This reliable and valid tool is crucial for early intervention in resource-limited settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Early diagnosis and intervention for developmental delay are crucial for improving long-term outcomes.
- Low- and middle-income countries require accessible and reliable developmental screening tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the ShaMaq developmental screening tool (SDST) for identifying developmental delay in Pakistani children.
Main Methods:
- The SDST comprises five age-specific proformas for children aged 6 weeks to 5.5 years.
- Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha; reliability was evaluated through interobserver testing.
- Concurrent validity was determined against a senior consultant developmental pediatrician's diagnosis.
Main Results:
- The SDST identified developmental delays in 8-19% of healthy children across five age groups.
- The tool demonstrated high internal consistency (0.784-0.940), interobserver reliability (0.737-1.0), and concurrent validity (0.737-1.0).
- The SDST achieved 94.4% sensitivity and 92.9% specificity.
Conclusions:
- The ShaMaq developmental screening tool (SDST) is an effective instrument for detecting developmental delays in children.
- The SDST exhibits strong internal consistency, reliability, and validity, making it suitable for clinical use.
