"Are you available for the next 18 months?" - methods and aims of a longitudinal birth cohort study investigating a universal developmental surveillance program: the ‘Watch Me Grow’ study

Abstract

BackgroundUniversal developmental surveillance programs aimed at early identification and targeted early intervention significantly improve short- and long-term outcomes in children at risk of developmental disorders. However, a significant challenge remains in providing sufficiently rigorous research and robust evidence to inform policy and service delivery. This paper describes the methods of the ‘Watch Me Grow’ study that aims to maximise accurate early detection of children with developmental disorders through a partnership formed between policy makers, service providers and researchers.Methods/DesignA mixed methods study design was developed consisting of: (1) a qualitative study of parents and health service providers to investigate barriers and enablers of developmental surveillance; (2) recruitment of a birth cohort and their longitudinal follow-up to 18 months of age to: a) assess risk factors for not accessing existing developmental surveillance programs and b) estimate the prevalence of children identified with developmental risk; (3) comparison of surveillance outcomes with a reference standard at 18 months of age to assess the diagnostic test accuracy of existing and alternative developmental surveillance tools; and (4) comparison of developmental surveillance models to inform policy recommendations. Data linkage will be used to determine the uptake and representativeness of the study participant group versus non-participants.DiscussionThe Watch Me Grow study is expected to provide a collaborative opportunity to enhance universal developmental surveillance for early accurate identification of developmental risk. This will also provide quality evidence about identification of developmental risk and access to services to be embedded in existing practice with linkages to policy development.

Screen time of infants in Sydney, Australia: a birth cohort study

“…The birth cohort was followed with telephone interviews at 6, 12 and 18 months of age. The WMG study protocol has been previously reported 17. Information about screen time was collected at the 18-month follow-up.…”

Prevalence and factors associated with parental concerns about development detected by theParents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS)at 6-month, 12-month and 18-month well-child checks in a birth cohort

“…The ‘Watch Me Grow’ (WMG) study was designed to evaluate the feasibility, accuracy, barriers and enablers of the current developmental surveillance systems in South Western Sydney—an area of significant social disadvantage located about 35 km from the Sydney central business district. 12 A key component of the WMG study was the establishment of a longitudinal birth cohort. The WMG study protocol, recruitment methods, representativeness and baseline risk factors have previously been reported.…”

Predictors of developmental surveillance completion at six months of age in south western Sydney

“…These were a subsample of a birth cohort recruited for the ‘Watch Me Grow’ study, a mixed methods study of developmental risk and surveillance in NSW. Recruitment methods have been detailed elsewhere (Eapen et al ; Woolfenden et al ). Participants who had completed the first two study components (baseline and 6‐month follow‐up) at the time of analysis were selected for inclusion.…”

“…Child developmental problems represent an ever increasing health and economic concern (Jarbrink et al 2003;Matson & Kozlowski 2011;Lavelle et al 2014). While early intervention may reduce the impact of developmental disorders (McConachie & Diggle 2007;Rogers & Vismara 2008;Howlin et al 2009;Einfeld et al 2013), timely identification of children who could benefit remains a significant challenge (Chung et al 2006;Eapen et al 2014).…”