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Screening Questionnaire for Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder: evidence of validity and internal consistency

ABSTRACT

Objective

Assess the evidence of validity and the internal consistency of the Questionnaire for Screening Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (QR-TEA).

Methods

Four healthcare professionals with more than five years of clinical experience in treating children diagnosed with ASD analyzed the content. A sample of 133 parents/guardians of children aged 24-36 months from all over Brazil participated in the internal structure and internal consistency study. Participants answered the questionnaire through interviews with healthcare professionals. An exploratory factor analysis technique verified the factor structure. Additionally, to assess the instrument’s internal consistency, the composite reliability was calculated.

Results

i-IVC = 1.00 was found for most items; Kappa between 0.51 and 0.94; p < 0.05; CCI = 0.90; p < 0.05. Exploratory factor analysis pointed to a two-factor solution for QR-TEA. Composite reliability was adequate (above 0.70) for both factors. The factor structure replicability measure suggested that the two factors are replicable in future studies (H > 0.80).

Conclusions

The data indicate initial evidence of validity and adequate internal consistency. The findings also support the psychometric adequacy of the QR-TEA in line with the DSM-5 two-factor model. It is recommended to conduct further studies to assess other evidence of validity and to verify the sensibility and specificity.

Screening; autistic spectrum disorder; autistic disorder; factorial analysis; psychometric parameters

Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Av. Venceslau Brás, 71 Fundos, 22295-140 Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 21) 3873-5510 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: editora@ipub.ufrj.br