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Reliability and Validity of the Chinese Version of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F)

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Abstract

Although early detection of autism facilitates intervention, early detection strategies are not yet widespread in China. To improve the situation, the Chinese version of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) was validated. The sample included 7928 toddlers, aged 16 to 30 months, screened during their routine care in six provinces of China. When the cut-off value was 3, the sensitivity and specificity of M-CHAT-R were 0.963 and 0.865. The inter-rater reliability and the test–retest reliability were also adequate (intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.853 and 0.759, both ps < .01). The Chinese version of M-CHAT-R/F is an effective tool for early detection of ASD and is applicable to early screening in China.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81573169) and a Grant from the Shenzhen Xinzhi Institute of Psychological Assessment Technology (Grant No. 5100071020274). We would like to thank the following groups: (1) Pediatricians, psychotherapists and health care providers for participating this study: Li Rongping, Li Xinting, Su Xi, YuHong, Zhang Yaru, Fan Xin, Ning Jing, Xiao Yu, Liang Deyi, Luo Yan, Xu Haiqing, Xu Lin, Yu Hong, Yao Xue. (2) All of the members of the research team who participated in data collection. (3) All of the parents and toddlers for their participation and support in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu, 510080, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Cuihua Guo, Meifang Luo, Xuxiang Wang & Jin Jing

  2. Southern Medical University Affiliated Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Foshan, No. 11 Renmin West Road, Chancheng, Foshan, People’s Republic of China

    Saijun Huang

  3. Tongzhou Maternal&Child Health Hospital of Beijing, No. 124 Yuqiao Middle Road, Tongzhou, Beijing, 101100, People’s Republic of China

    Zhaoxue Meng

  4. The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 57 Zhuganxiang, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China

    Jie Shao

  5. Department of Child Health Care, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No 745, Wuluo Road, Hongshan, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Xuan Zhang

  6. The Ninth People’s Hospital of Chongqing, No. 1 Yueya village, Beibei, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi Shao

  7. Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, No. 13 Guangyuan West Road, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Jieling Wu

  8. AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, 3020 Market Street, Suite 560, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Diana L. Robins

Authors
  1. Cuihua Guo
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  2. Meifang Luo
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  3. Xuxiang Wang
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  4. Saijun Huang
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  5. Zhaoxue Meng
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  6. Jie Shao
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  7. Xuan Zhang
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  8. Zhi Shao
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  9. Jieling Wu
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  10. Diana L. Robins
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  11. Jin Jing
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Contributions

CG conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination and drafted the manuscript; ML and XW participated in the design of the study and performed the statistical analysis; SH, ZXM, JS, XZ, ZS and JW participated in the design and coordination of the study and performed the measurement; DLR and JJ conceived of the study, and participated in its design and coordination and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Diana L. Robins or Jin Jing.

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Conflict of interest

Diana L. Robins is co-owner of M-CHAT, LLC, which licenses use of M-CHAT and related materials in commercial products. There were no royalties from the use of M-CHAT-R/F in the current study. All other authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Guo, C., Luo, M., Wang, X. et al. Reliability and Validity of the Chinese Version of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F). J Autism Dev Disord 49, 185–196 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3682-y

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