Serbian Language version of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Assessment of Reliability

Abstract

Early detection of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has proven to be of high significance, however there is a limited availability of ASD screening tools in Serbian language. In this study we aim to translate, assess reliability and, in part, test the applicability of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT R/F) in Serbian Healthcare environment. We screened 128 children in three primary healthcare centres and 20 children in a tertiary psychiatric center, using M-CHAT R/F translated into Serbian language, between December 2014 and October 2015. At the end of the screening process 80% of participants in the risk group screened positive for ASD, while in the control group 4 (3.1%) participants screened positive, with a mean total scores of 8.25 and 0.66 respectively. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.91 and Guttman’s λ6 was 0.93. Test – retest reliability was deemed as acceptable, and no significant correlation was found between M-CHAT-R/F scores and Epworth Sleepiness Scale for children scores. The Serbian version of the M-CHAT-R/F has shown satisfactory reliability. We can therefore assert that it is a reliable tool for identifying ASD and it can be used in clinical practice to improve early detection, assessment and treatment.

Systematic review: cultural adaptation and feasibility of screening for autism in non-English speaking countries

“…This review presented 19 papers, which included 20 studies, as one paper reported on two different studies [ 41 ]. These studies, from 13 nations (Arab [ 42 , 43 ], Hong Kong [ 44 ], Iran [ 7 , 45 ], Israel [ 13 ], Japan [ 46 , 47 ], Korea [ 48 ], Mexico [ 49 , 50 ], Norway [ 51 ], Sir Lanka [ 19 , 52 ], Spain [ 53 ], Sweden [ 54 ], Turkey [ 41 , 55 ] and Serbia [ 56 ]), met the inclusion criteria for this review.…”

“…Canal-Bedia et al [ 53 ] Stage 1: Case control Spain Extended Health Centre & Psychiatric N-2480 18–36 months Parents The Spanish Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) + M-Chat Phone interview Stage 2: Cross sectional N-2055 18–36 months 5. Carakovac et al [ 56 ] Case control Serbian Primary Healthcare & Psychiatric N = 148 Mean age = 22.25–23.53 months Parents The Serbian Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) 6. Fombonne et al [ 49 ] Case control Mexico Autism Developmental Disorder Clinic Public primary school N = 563 4–13 years Mean age: 8 years Parents and teachers Spanish version of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) 7.…”

“…Context: Does the study consider the social, economic, historical, and political contexts of clients while screening? Author Language Persons Metaphors Content Concepts Goals Methods Context Albores-Gallo et al [ 50 ] + – – – + – – – Ben-Sasson and Carter [ 13 ] + + – – + – – – Beuker et al [ 51 ] + – – – – – – – Canal-Bedia et al [ 53 ] + – + + + – – Carakovac et al [ 56 ] + – – – + – – – Fombonne et al [ 49 ] + – – – ...…”

Autism spectrum disorder: advances in diagnosis and evaluation

“…M-CHAT includes a follow-up interview, which clarifies parent questionnaire responses to reduce false positives. M-CHAT has been assessed in multiple independent primary care samples116117 and internationally in multiple languages using validated translations 118119120121122. It is also available as an electronic tablet based version123; this product improves utilization by primary care pediatricians and can be completed by parents online, potentially increasing access by underserved populations 124.…”

Early Screening of the Autism Spectrum Disorders: Validity Properties and Cross-Cultural Generalizability of the First Year Inventory in Italy

“…For these reasons, the EFA estimating the two-factor structure was preferred and reached a moderate fit of the data, χ 2 (1651) = 2940.15, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.79, RMSEA = 0.034 (LO90% = 0.032, HI90% = 0.036). Nineteen items (Items 4,5,6,16,(27)(28)(29)31,32,39,41,(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56) were excluded from the subsequent analysis because the factor loadings loaded for two or more factors. After exclusion of those items, the subsequent fourth EFA reached moderate fit of the data, χ 2 (739) = 1185.47, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.03 (LO90% = 0.027, HI90% = 0.033).…”