TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychometric properties, factor structure and cross-cultural validity of the quantitative CHecklist for autism in toddlers (Q-CHAT) in an Italian community setting
AU - Rutaa, Liliana
AU - Arduino, Giuseppe M.
AU - Gagliano, Antonella
AU - Apicella, Fabio
AU - Leonardi, Elisa
AU - Famà, Francesca I.
AU - Chericoni, Natasha
AU - Costanzo, Valeria
AU - Turco, Nazarena
AU - Tartarisco, Gennaro
AU - Allison, Carrie
AU - Cohen, Simon Baron
AU - Pioggia, Giovanni
AU - Chiarotti, Flavia
AU - Muratori, Filippo
PY - 2019/8/1
Y1 - 2019/8/1
N2 - Background: In the past decade, several screening instruments have been developed to detect toddlers at risk for autism, both in clinical and unselected samples.We aimed to assess the validity and cross-cultural stability of the Quantitative CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q−CHAT), a quantitative and normally distributed measure of autistic traits, during routine paediatric developmental surveillance in a large Italian community of toddlers. Methods: A group of n = 2400 unselected Italian toddlers were screened by paediatricians during routine well−CHild visits between 18 and 24 months,in three Italian regions, representative of the North, Centre and South of Italy. The psychometric properties and factor structure of the Q−CHAT were explored and compared with published literature from Asia and the UK. Results: The total Q−CHAT scores in our sample confirmed a normal distribution. Mean Q−CHAT scores across regions were consistent with those reported in UK studies and likewise, a gender effect was found, with boys scoring higher than girls.We also found a remarkable consistency with the three-factor structure of the Asian Q−CHAT. Internal consistency was acceptable for both the Q−CHAT total score and the three factors. Conclusions: Our results confirm the dimensional distribution of autistic traits and related symptoms in unselected populations across different cultures. The Q−CHAT is a valid and reliable dimensional screening instrument to be used within a routine paediatric setting during well-child assessments.The main normative data and factor structure replicated in our sample
AB - Background: In the past decade, several screening instruments have been developed to detect toddlers at risk for autism, both in clinical and unselected samples.We aimed to assess the validity and cross-cultural stability of the Quantitative CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q−CHAT), a quantitative and normally distributed measure of autistic traits, during routine paediatric developmental surveillance in a large Italian community of toddlers. Methods: A group of n = 2400 unselected Italian toddlers were screened by paediatricians during routine well−CHild visits between 18 and 24 months,in three Italian regions, representative of the North, Centre and South of Italy. The psychometric properties and factor structure of the Q−CHAT were explored and compared with published literature from Asia and the UK. Results: The total Q−CHAT scores in our sample confirmed a normal distribution. Mean Q−CHAT scores across regions were consistent with those reported in UK studies and likewise, a gender effect was found, with boys scoring higher than girls.We also found a remarkable consistency with the three-factor structure of the Asian Q−CHAT. Internal consistency was acceptable for both the Q−CHAT total score and the three factors. Conclusions: Our results confirm the dimensional distribution of autistic traits and related symptoms in unselected populations across different cultures. The Q−CHAT is a valid and reliable dimensional screening instrument to be used within a routine paediatric setting during well-child assessments.The main normative data and factor structure replicated in our sample
KW - Autism spectrum disorders
KW - Cross-cultural validity
KW - Q−CHAT
KW - Screening
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U2 - 10.1016/j.rasd.2019.04.004
DO - 10.1016/j.rasd.2019.04.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85064448463
VL - 64
SP - 39
EP - 48
JO - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
JF - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
SN - 1750-9467
ER -