International variation in programmes for assessment of children’s neurodevelopment in the community: Understanding disparate approaches to evaluation of motor, social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive function

Philip Wilson; Rachael Wood; Kirsten Lykke; Anette Hauskov Graungaard; Ruth Kirk Ertmann; Merethe Kirstine Andersen; Ole Rikard Haavet; Per Lagerløv; Eirik Abildsnes; Mina P. Dahli; Marjukka Mäkelä; Aleksi Varinen; Merja Hietanen

doi:10.1177/1403494818772211

International variation in programmes for assessment of children’s neurodevelopment in the community: Understanding disparate approaches to evaluation of motor, social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive function

Philip Wilson^*, Rachael Wood, Kirsten Lykke, Anette Hauskov Graungaard, Ruth Kirk Ertmann, Merethe Kirstine Andersen, Ole Rikard Haavet, Per Lagerløv, Eirik Abildsnes, Mina P. Dahli, Marjukka Mäkelä, Aleksi Varinen, Merja Hietanen

^*Corresponding author for this work

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Few areas of medicine demonstrate such international divergence as child development screening and surveillance. Many countries have nationally mandated surveillance policies, but the content of programmes and mechanisms for delivery vary enormously. The cost of programmes is substantial but no economic evaluations have been carried out. We have critically examined the history, underlying philosophy, content and delivery of programmes for child development assessment in five countries with comprehensive publicly funded health services (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden). The specific focus of this article is on motor, social, emotional, behavioural and global cognitive functioning including language. Findings: Variations in developmental surveillance programmes are substantially explained by historical factors and gradual evolution although Scotland has undergone radical changes in approach. No elements of universal developmental assessment programmes meet World Health Organization screening criteria, although some assessments are configured as screening activities. The roles of doctors and nurses vary greatly by country as do the timing, content and likely costs of programmes. Inter-professional communication presents challenges to all the studied health services. No programme has evidence for improved health outcomes or cost effectiveness. Conclusions: Developmental surveillance programmes vary greatly and their structure appears to be driven by historical factors as much as by evidence. Consensus should be reached about which surveillance activities constitute screening, and the predictive validity of these components needs to be established and judged against World Health Organization screening criteria. Costs and consequences of specific programmes should be assessed, and the issue of inter-professional communication about children at remediable developmental risk should be prioritised.

Original language	English
Book series	Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
Volume	46
Issue number	8
Pages (from-to)	805-816
Number of pages	12
ISSN	1403-4948
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494818772211
Publication status	Published - 2018

Keywords

child development
community nurse
general practice
health surveillance
organisation of care
Paediatrics
parents
primary (health) care
screening
well-child checks

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10.1177/1403494818772211

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Wilson, P., Wood, R., Lykke, K., Hauskov Graungaard, A., Ertmann, R. K., Andersen, M. K., Haavet, O. R., Lagerløv, P., Abildsnes, E., Dahli, M. P., Mäkelä, M., Varinen, A., & Hietanen, M. (2018). International variation in programmes for assessment of children’s neurodevelopment in the community: Understanding disparate approaches to evaluation of motor, social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive function. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 46(8), 805-816. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494818772211

International variation in programmes for assessment of children’s neurodevelopment in the community : Understanding disparate approaches to evaluation of motor, social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive function. / Wilson, Philip; Wood, Rachael; Lykke, Kirsten et al.

In: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 46, No. 8, 2018, p. 805-816.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Wilson, P, Wood, R, Lykke, K , Hauskov Graungaard, A , Ertmann, RK, Andersen, MK, Haavet, OR, Lagerløv, P, Abildsnes, E, Dahli, MP, Mäkelä, M, Varinen, A & Hietanen, M 2018, 'International variation in programmes for assessment of children’s neurodevelopment in the community: Understanding disparate approaches to evaluation of motor, social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive function', Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, vol. 46, no. 8, pp. 805-816. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494818772211

Wilson P, Wood R, Lykke K , Hauskov Graungaard A , Ertmann RK, Andersen MK et al. International variation in programmes for assessment of children’s neurodevelopment in the community: Understanding disparate approaches to evaluation of motor, social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive function. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2018;46(8):805-816. doi: 10.1177/1403494818772211

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title = "International variation in programmes for assessment of children{\textquoteright}s neurodevelopment in the community: Understanding disparate approaches to evaluation of motor, social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive function",

abstract = "Background: Few areas of medicine demonstrate such international divergence as child development screening and surveillance. Many countries have nationally mandated surveillance policies, but the content of programmes and mechanisms for delivery vary enormously. The cost of programmes is substantial but no economic evaluations have been carried out. We have critically examined the history, underlying philosophy, content and delivery of programmes for child development assessment in five countries with comprehensive publicly funded health services (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden). The specific focus of this article is on motor, social, emotional, behavioural and global cognitive functioning including language. Findings: Variations in developmental surveillance programmes are substantially explained by historical factors and gradual evolution although Scotland has undergone radical changes in approach. No elements of universal developmental assessment programmes meet World Health Organization screening criteria, although some assessments are configured as screening activities. The roles of doctors and nurses vary greatly by country as do the timing, content and likely costs of programmes. Inter-professional communication presents challenges to all the studied health services. No programme has evidence for improved health outcomes or cost effectiveness. Conclusions: Developmental surveillance programmes vary greatly and their structure appears to be driven by historical factors as much as by evidence. Consensus should be reached about which surveillance activities constitute screening, and the predictive validity of these components needs to be established and judged against World Health Organization screening criteria. Costs and consequences of specific programmes should be assessed, and the issue of inter-professional communication about children at remediable developmental risk should be prioritised.",

keywords = "child development, community nurse, general practice, health surveillance, organisation of care, Paediatrics, parents, primary (health) care, screening, well-child checks",

author = "Philip Wilson and Rachael Wood and Kirsten Lykke and {Hauskov Graungaard}, Anette and Ertmann, {Ruth Kirk} and Andersen, {Merethe Kirstine} and Haavet, {Ole Rikard} and Per Lagerl{\o}v and Eirik Abildsnes and Dahli, {Mina P.} and Marjukka M{\"a}kel{\"a} and Aleksi Varinen and Merja Hietanen",

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T2 - Understanding disparate approaches to evaluation of motor, social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive function

AU - Wilson, Philip

AU - Wood, Rachael

AU - Lykke, Kirsten

AU - Hauskov Graungaard, Anette

AU - Ertmann, Ruth Kirk

AU - Andersen, Merethe Kirstine

AU - Haavet, Ole Rikard

AU - Lagerløv, Per

AU - Abildsnes, Eirik

AU - Dahli, Mina P.

AU - Mäkelä, Marjukka

AU - Varinen, Aleksi

AU - Hietanen, Merja

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Background: Few areas of medicine demonstrate such international divergence as child development screening and surveillance. Many countries have nationally mandated surveillance policies, but the content of programmes and mechanisms for delivery vary enormously. The cost of programmes is substantial but no economic evaluations have been carried out. We have critically examined the history, underlying philosophy, content and delivery of programmes for child development assessment in five countries with comprehensive publicly funded health services (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden). The specific focus of this article is on motor, social, emotional, behavioural and global cognitive functioning including language. Findings: Variations in developmental surveillance programmes are substantially explained by historical factors and gradual evolution although Scotland has undergone radical changes in approach. No elements of universal developmental assessment programmes meet World Health Organization screening criteria, although some assessments are configured as screening activities. The roles of doctors and nurses vary greatly by country as do the timing, content and likely costs of programmes. Inter-professional communication presents challenges to all the studied health services. No programme has evidence for improved health outcomes or cost effectiveness. Conclusions: Developmental surveillance programmes vary greatly and their structure appears to be driven by historical factors as much as by evidence. Consensus should be reached about which surveillance activities constitute screening, and the predictive validity of these components needs to be established and judged against World Health Organization screening criteria. Costs and consequences of specific programmes should be assessed, and the issue of inter-professional communication about children at remediable developmental risk should be prioritised.

AB - Background: Few areas of medicine demonstrate such international divergence as child development screening and surveillance. Many countries have nationally mandated surveillance policies, but the content of programmes and mechanisms for delivery vary enormously. The cost of programmes is substantial but no economic evaluations have been carried out. We have critically examined the history, underlying philosophy, content and delivery of programmes for child development assessment in five countries with comprehensive publicly funded health services (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden). The specific focus of this article is on motor, social, emotional, behavioural and global cognitive functioning including language. Findings: Variations in developmental surveillance programmes are substantially explained by historical factors and gradual evolution although Scotland has undergone radical changes in approach. No elements of universal developmental assessment programmes meet World Health Organization screening criteria, although some assessments are configured as screening activities. The roles of doctors and nurses vary greatly by country as do the timing, content and likely costs of programmes. Inter-professional communication presents challenges to all the studied health services. No programme has evidence for improved health outcomes or cost effectiveness. Conclusions: Developmental surveillance programmes vary greatly and their structure appears to be driven by historical factors as much as by evidence. Consensus should be reached about which surveillance activities constitute screening, and the predictive validity of these components needs to be established and judged against World Health Organization screening criteria. Costs and consequences of specific programmes should be assessed, and the issue of inter-professional communication about children at remediable developmental risk should be prioritised.

KW - child development

KW - community nurse

KW - general practice

KW - health surveillance

KW - organisation of care

KW - Paediatrics

KW - parents

KW - primary (health) care

KW - screening

KW - well-child checks

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DO - 10.1177/1403494818772211

M3 - Journal article

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AN - SCOPUS:85053660331

SN - 1403-4956

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JO - Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Supplement

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Supplement

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ER -