Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 17, 2025
Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism
Published on: March 27, 2012
A proposed algorithm for early autism screening in Polish primary care settings - a pilot study
Patryk Domarecki1, Katarzyna Plata-Nazar2, Wojciech Nazar3
1BUTTERFLY - Center for Development Support Foundation, Kujawska 8/5A, Morag, 14-300, Poland. praktyka.domarecki@gmail.com.
Insights
A new autism screening algorithm in Poland shows promise for early detection in primary care. Parental concerns were the strongest predictor of positive screening results, aiding in timely diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Rising global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) necessitates improved diagnostic tools.
- Primary care settings are ideal for early ASD screening in young children.
- An original early autism screening algorithm was developed for Polish primary care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and test an original algorithm for early autism screening in Polish primary care.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the screening algorithm in identifying children with potential ASD.
- To assess the feasibility of implementing the algorithm in routine pediatric check-ups.
Main Methods:
- Algorithm development based on literature review and observational tools.
- Data collection via online questionnaires (M-CHAT-R/F) and the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT).
- Statistical analysis including Shapiro-Wilk test, U-Mann Whitney, Student's t-test, and Spearman's rank correlation.
Main Results:
- 159 parents completed the initial phase; 29 children proceeded to the second stage.
- 10 children screened positive on STAT and were referred for evaluation; 5 received an ASD diagnosis.
- Parental concerns were the strongest predictor of M-CHAT-R/F results; fear of diagnosis led to withdrawal.
Conclusions:
- The proposed early developmental screening algorithm is a viable option for Polish primary care.
- Implementation can enhance early detection of developmental difficulties, leading to better therapeutic outcomes.
- Further research is recommended to validate and refine the algorithm for broader application.
Background:
The rising rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence worldwide demands new screening algorithms to make the process of diagnosis more effective. General practitioners and pediatricians are well-positioned to screen all children aged 16 to 30 months during regular check-ups. In the research, the original algorithm for early autism screening in Polish primary care settings was proposed and tested.
Methods:
Based on the literature review, the original algorithm of early autism screening employing observational tool was developed and tested. Personal data and M-CHAT-R/F were collected online. In the second phase, chosen patients participated in the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT). Children who scored positive were referred for the comprehensive ASD evaluation. Normal distribution was analyzed with the use of the Shapiro-Wilk test. Chosen variables were compared using the U-Mann Whitney (nonparametric data) or Student's t-test (parametric data). The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was calculated to analyze the strength of association between selected continuous variables. The threshold of the two-sided statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results:
Of 187 parents invited to the project, 159 filled the form in the first phase. According to the protocol, 29 children were chosen for the second stage. 10 children scored positive in the STAT session and were referred for comprehensive evaluation. 5 children out of the seven who attended the evaluation received a final diagnosis of ASD. Parental concerns were found the strongest predictor of M-CHAT-R/F results. Fear of having a child with ASD diagnosis was the most common reason for withdrawal from further steps of the protocol.
Conclusions:
The proposed algorithm for early developmental screening in the Polish primary care settings is a promising pathway with the potential to be implemented in clinical practice. It contributes to the early detection of developmental difficulties and therefore results in positive therapeutic outcomes. Further research is needed.
