Comparative use of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires in low- and middle-income countries.

Aim: To map the breadth of use of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) across world regions, and examine procedures for ASQ translation, adaptation, psychometric evaluation, and administration.

Method: We conducted a review of all original, peer-reviewed studies written in English referencing use of the ASQ in LMICs. We used a consensus rating procedure to classify each article into one of four categories: feasibility study, psychometric study, prevalence study, or research study.

Physician Awareness of Developmental Screening and Referral in the State of Kuwait.

Objective: In the State of Kuwait, family physicians and pediatricians are responsible for identifying and referring children at risk of disability. The aims of this study were to better understand physician (1) use of developmental screening instruments, (2) referral practices for children at risk of developmental disability, (3) interpretation of screening results, and (4) anticipatory guidance topics prioritized over child screening.

Methods: A nonprobability volunteer, self-selection sample of family physicians, general practitioners, and pediatricians (n = 398) completed a 60-item paper questionnaire.

Lowering developmental screening thresholds and raising quality improvement for preterm children.

Objectives: To determine: 1) if preterm children were referred, identified and received early intervention (EI)/ early childhood special education (ECSE) services at rates equivalent to term children after implementation of a universal, periodic Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) surveillance and screening system; 2) if pediatricians sufficiently lowered their screening thresholds with preterm children;and 3) if quality improvement opportunities exist.

Patient And Methods: Secondary analysis was performed on 64 lower-risk, mostly late-preterm and 1363 term children who originally presented to their 12- or 24-month well- visits. Higher-risk preemies already involved with an EI agency/ identified with a delay were excluded.

Impact of implementing developmental screening at 12 and 24 months in a pediatric practice.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and costs of incorporating a parent-completed developmental screening tool, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, into the 12- and 24-month well-child visits under "real-world" conditions, using a combined in-office and mail-back data collection protocol.

Methods: A convenience sample of 1428 caregivers and children presenting for their 12- or 24-month well-child visit between April 2005 and March 2006 participated. Children with identified delays or disorders were excluded.

Definition and outcome of a curriculum to prevent disordered eating and body-shaping drug use.

Almost one half of male and female students participate in high school-sponsored athletics, and high school also is a time when classroom health promotion curricula are less effective. The Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids is a sport team-centered drug-use prevention program for male high school athletes, which has been shown to reduce alcohol and illicit drug use. Just as anabolic steroid use is associated with male athletes, female sport participants may be at a greater risk for disordered eating and body-shaping drug use.

Preventing substance use and disordered eating: initial outcomes of the ATHENA (athletes targeting healthy exercise and nutrition alternatives) program.

Objectives: To implement and to assess the efficacy of a school-based, sport team-centered program to prevent young female high school athletes' disordered eating and body-shaping drug use.

Design And Setting: Prospective controlled trial in 18 high schools, with balanced random assignment by school to the intervention and usual-care control conditions.

Participants: We enrolled 928 students from 40 participating sport teams.

A multilevel contextual model of neighborhood collective efficacy.

Different data sources were used to examine hypothesized relations among neighborhood-, family-, and individual-level variables, and perceptions of neighborhood collective efficacy. Data were from 1,105 individuals (56% female, 42% African American, and 58% White) nested within 55 neighborhoods and 392 families, analyzed within a multilevel design using a 3-level model. At the neighborhood level, the study examined relations between Census, police, and neighborhood representative indicators.