Abstract

Background

The early detection of developmental conditions such as autism is vital to ensure children can access appropriate and timely evidence-based supports, services, and interventions. Children who have undetected developmental conditions early in life are more likely to develop later health, developmental, learning, and behavioural issues, which in turn can have a cumulative effect over the life course.

Methods

The current protocol describes a multi-site, cluster randomized control trial comparing a developmental surveillance pathway for autism to usual care, using opportunistic visits to general practitioners (GPs). Units of randomization are GP clinics across two Australian states (New South Wales and Victoria), with thirty clinics within each state, each of which will aim to recruit approximately forty children aged between ~18- and 24-months, for a total of ~2,400 participants. Children will be randomized to two clusters; namely, an autism surveillance pathway (ASP) or surveillance as usual (SaU). The screening process for the ASP arm involves primary and secondary screenings for developmental concerns for autism, using both parent and GP reports and observations. Children in both arms who show signs of developmental concerns for autism will be offered a full developmental assessment by the research team at 24 months of age to determine the efficacy of developmental surveillance in successfully identifying children with autism.

Citation

Barbaro, J. Masi, A., Gilbert, M., Nair, R., Abdullahi, I., Descallar, J., Dissanayake, C., Eastwood, J., Hasan,, I., Jalaludin, B., Karlov, L., Khan, F., Kohlhoff, J., Liaw, S.T., Lingam, R., Mendoza Diaz, A., Ong, N., Tam, C.W.M., Unwin, K., Woolfenden, S. & Eapen, V. (2021). A multistate trial of an early surveillance program for autism within General Practices in Australia. Frontiers in Pediatrics. doi 10.3389/fped.2021.640359