An investigation of the utility of the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in young children.

Background: Early diagnosis of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) assists in implementing critical early support. The challenge lies in having a diagnostic process that enables valid and reliable assessment of domains of functioning in young children, with the added complexity that many children will also have co-occurring exposure to childhood adversity that is likely to impact these domains.

Methods: The aim of this study was to test a diagnostic assessment of FASD in young children using the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD.

Enhancing interprofessional practice through the co-design of a holistic culturally and developmentally informed First Nations child health assessment.

Background: This qualitative study explored staff experiences of co-designing and implementing a novel interprofessional (IP) First Nations child health assessment (the helpful check), developed in partnership with a remote North-Queensland Aboriginal CommunityControlled Health Organisation.

Method: Eleven staff across two teams (family health and allied health) were involved in co-designing and implementing the child health assessment and associated IP practices. Interviews were undertaken using a semi-structured interview template and were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Preventing Drift through Continued Co-Design with a First Nations Community: Refining the Prototype of a Tiered FASD Assessment.

As part of the broader Yapatjarrathati project, 47 remote health providers and community members attended a two-day workshop presenting a prototype of a culturally-safe, tiered neurodevelopmental assessment that can identify fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in primary healthcare. The workshop provided a forum for broad community feedback on the tiered assessment process, which was initially co-designed with a smaller number of key First Nations community stakeholders. Improvement in self-reported attendee knowledge, confidence, and perceived competence in the neurodevelopmental assessment process was found post-workshop, assessed through self-report questionnaires.

Integrating cultural considerations and developmental screening into an Australian First Nations child health check.

The aim of the present study was to integrate cultural considerations and developmental screening into a First Nations child health check. The 'Share and Care Check,' an optimised child health check, was co-designed with a remote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and led by Aboriginal Health Practitioners/Workers. Of 55 families who completed the Share and Care Check, the majority of participants indicated that their family/child was connected with their tribe and country.

Yarning about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Outcomes of a community-based workshop.

Introduction: There is a lack of neurodevelopmental assessment services in rural and remote locations in Australia that consider fetal alcohol spectrum disorder as a possible outcome.

Methods: Eighty-seven participants attended a workshop to support community-based professional development and co-design of a novel assessment approach. Qualitative data collection included video recording of the workshop, and small group discussions, for which a narrative analysis was utilised.

Community-based child development service fetal alcohol spectrum disorder assessment: A retrospective clinic audit.

Aims: The aims of the current study were to: (i) report on the diagnostic profile of a group of children assessed for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) using the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD; and (ii) to provide information and recommendations for paediatricians and/or multidisciplinary teams conducting FASD assessments, including utilising the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD, and details of how to do FASD assessment.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted using relevant demographic and diagnostic data from children assessed for FASD within a community child development service.

Results: Results showed the widespread impact of FASD on the brain, with all children showing some level of impairment in at least 5 out of 10 of the neurodevelopmental domains assessed for FASD.

Protocol for the Yapatjarrathati project: a mixed-method implementation trial of a tiered assessment process for identifying fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in a remote Australian community.

Background: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Early identification can improve functioning for individuals and reduce costs to society. Gold standard methods of diagnosing FASD rely on specialists to deliver intensive, multidisciplinary assessments.

A fetal alcohol spectrum disorder diagnostic service and beyond: Outcomes for families.

Background: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is of significant concern for Australians for many reasons, one being Australia's drinking culture which increases the potential for FASD to occur.

Aims: The current study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Australian caregivers who received a FASD diagnosis for a child in their care, usingthe Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD.

Methods And Procedures: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven caregivers whose children were assessed for FASD by a multidisciplinary team.