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Operationalisation of the European Protocol for Autism Prevalence (EPAP) for Autism Spectrum Disorder Prevalence Measurement in Ireland

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Abstract

The European Autism Information System project highlighted the lack of systematic and reliable data relating to the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in Europe. A protocol for the study of ASD prevalence at European level was developed to facilitate a common format for screening and diagnosing children across the EU. This is the first study to operationalise and screen national school children for ASDs using this protocol. National school children 6–11 years (N = 7951) were screened males 54 % (N = 4268) females 46 % (N = 3683). Screening children for ASD implementing the EAIS protocol using the Social Communication Questionnaire (Rutter et al. in Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). Western Psychological Services, Los Angeles, ) as a first level screening instrument in a non-clinical setting of Irish national schools was demonstrated.

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Acknowledgments

This study was part funded by an Irish charity Irish Autism Action. The study team would like to acknowledge the support of the following people in the follow up phase of data collection. Dr Phil Jeffery’s, Dr Laura Coffey, Dr Teresa McVeigh, Dr Aileen Woods, Mr David Leon, Mr Emmet Mallon, Mrs Susan Hourican, Mr Sean Duffy.

Author Contributions

Andrew Boilson was the lead researcher who was involved in the study from design, to data gathering, data analysis and interpretation as well as drafting and revising the manuscript. Anthony Staines was joint principal investigator of the project. He was involved in all stages from design of the study right through to drafting and revising the manuscript. Alvaro Ramirez drafted the EPAP protocol which was used in the design of the prevalence study. Manuel Posada drafted the EPAP protocol which was used in the design of the prevalence study. Mary Rose Sweeney was joint principal investigator of the project. She had the original idea for the project, secured the funding and was involved in all stages from design of the project right through to drafting and revising the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland, UK

    A. M. Boilson, A. Staines & M. R. Sweeney

  2. The Hope Project, Scarriff, Ogonnelloe, Co. Clare, Ireland, UK

    A. Ramirez

  3. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Melchor Fernández Almagro 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain

    M. Posada

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  1. A. M. Boilson
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  5. M. R. Sweeney
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Correspondence to M. R. Sweeney.

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Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee, in Dublin City University. Ethical approval was in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 as revised in 1983. Written consent was obtained from parents of all participating children.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual primary caregivers of children included in the study.

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Boilson, A.M., Staines, A., Ramirez, A. et al. Operationalisation of the European Protocol for Autism Prevalence (EPAP) for Autism Spectrum Disorder Prevalence Measurement in Ireland. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 3054–3067 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2837-y

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