Autism screening and conditional cash transfers in Chile: Using the Quantitative Checklist (Q-CHAT) for early autism detection in a low resource setting.
A 10-item toddler autism screener works as well as the 25-item version and fits into busy low-resource clinics.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Doctors in Chile added a 10-item autism screener to regular 18-month check-ups.
They gave the short form to the toddlers in public clinics.
The team compared results with the full 25-item Q-CHAT and expert diagnosis.
What they found
The 10-item version caught the same kids who later received an autism diagnosis.
It took two minutes and staff said it was easy to use.
Reliability numbers matched the long form.
How this fits with other research
Derks et al. (2017) trimmed the 40-item SCQ down to 24 items for adults with ID.
They also kept good sensitivity, showing short forms can work across ages.
Jänsch et al. (2014) showed Scottish clinics already follow long guidelines, but the Chile study proves you can start simple in places with less money.
Both papers agree: build the screener into the visit you already do.
Why it matters
You can swap in the Q-CHAT-10 tomorrow. Add the 10 questions to your intake packet. You will spot toddlers who need a full evaluation without adding time or staff. Use it in Head Start, daycare clinics, or any setting where long tools sit unused on the shelf.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Getting a diagnosis of autism can take long, because autism is different across people, but also because it depends on the way it gets diagnosed. This is especially important in poorer countries or in the case of poor people living in wealthier countries that have significant groups of disadvantaged communities. We adapted a 10-item version of the Q-CHAT-25 questionnaire for use in routine health check-ups programme in Chile and recruited 287 participants under the age of three divided into three groups: Controls (125), Developmental Delay (149) and Autism Spectrum Condition (13). Our results show that a short questionnaire for autism screening can be successfully applied in a health-check programme in poor resource settings. Our results show that our questionnaire had good overall performance, not different to its longer version, the Q-CHAT-25. Our questionnaire was autism specific, with good sensitivity and reliability, and is suitable to be used in a screening setting. This study provides evidence that the implementation of Autism Spectrum Condition screening programmes using the Q-CHAT-10 provides value for money and improves diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition in those participating in routine health check-up programmes in developing countries or poor areas of wealthy countries.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2021 · doi:10.1177/1362361320972277