Co-Design of a Neurodevelopment Assessment Scale: A Study Protocol

Anne Masi¹, Syeda Ishra Azim¹, Christa Lam-Cassettari^{1

2}, Mark Dadds³, Antonio Mendoza Diaz^{1

2}, Georgina Henry⁴, Lisa Karlov^{1

2}, Ping-I Lin^{1

2

5}, Kylie-Ann Mallitt^{6

7}, Alicia Montgomery¹, Iva Strnadová^{8

9}, Andrew Whitehouse¹⁰, Valsamma Eapen^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
² Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South Western Sydney Local Health District and Ingham Institute, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
³ School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁴ Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁵ Mental Health Research Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District and Ingham Institute, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Big Data Research in Health, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁷ School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁸ School of Education, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁹ Disability Innovation Institute at UNSW, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
¹⁰ Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.

PMID: 34886563
PMCID: PMC8657806
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312837

Co-Design of a Neurodevelopment Assessment Scale: A Study Protocol

Anne Masi et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021.

. 2021 Dec 6;18(23):12837.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph182312837.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
² Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South Western Sydney Local Health District and Ingham Institute, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
³ School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁴ Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁵ Mental Health Research Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District and Ingham Institute, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Big Data Research in Health, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁷ School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁸ School of Education, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁹ Disability Innovation Institute at UNSW, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
¹⁰ Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.

PMID: 34886563
PMCID: PMC8657806
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312837

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders are a heterogeneous group of conditions with overlapping symptomatology and fluctuating developmental trajectories that transcend current diagnostic categorisation. There is a need for validated screening instruments which dimensionally assess symptomatology from a holistic, transdiagnostic perspective. The primary aim is to co-design a Neurodevelopment Assessment Scale (NAS), a user-friendly transdiagnostic assessment inventory that systematically screens for all signs and symptoms commonly encountered in neurodevelopmental disorders. Our first objective is to undertake development of this tool, utilising co-design principles in partnership with stakeholders, including both those with lived experience of neurodevelopmental disorders and service providers. Our second objective is to evaluate the face validity, as well as the perceived utility, user-friendliness, suitability, and acceptability (i.e., 'social validity'), of the NAS from the perspective of parents/caregivers and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders, clinicians, and service providers. Our third objective is to ascertain the psychometric properties of the NAS, including content validity and convergent validity. The NAS will provide an efficient transdiagnostic tool for evaluating all relevant signs, symptoms, and the dimensional constructs that underpin neurodevelopmental presentations. It is anticipated that this will maximise outcomes by enabling the delivery of personalised care tailored to an individual's unique profile in a holistic and efficient manner.

Keywords: clinical phenotype; neurodevelopment assessment; neurodevelopmental disorders; scale development; transdiagnostic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
The flow of research activities through each of the three phases of the research process.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Co-Design of a Neurodevelopment Assessment Scale: A Study Protocol

Affiliations

Co-Design of a Neurodevelopment Assessment Scale: A Study Protocol

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical