Cultural adaptation, validation, and standardization of a developmental screening tool (ASQ-3) in Iranian children

• Published in: Iranian journal of child neurology 2024-01, Vol.18 (2), p.55-71
• Main Authors: Shariatpanahi, Ghazal, Vameghi, Roshanak, Ghanbari, Niloufar, Barekati, Seyed Hamed, Lornejad, Hamid Reza, Abolghasemi, Naria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation; Children; Cronbach's alpha; Pediatrics; Standardization; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 1735-4668; 2008-0700
• DOI: 10.22037/ijcn.v18i2.39595

This study aimed at culturally adapting, validating, and standardizing the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, third edition (ASQ-3) by implementing a nation-wide cross-sectional methodological study in order to provide a valid and reliable tool for determining the developmental status of Iranian children. This cross-sectional and methodological study was conducted on Iranian children between 1-66 months. The ASQ-3 tool was translated; following that, its face and content validity, as well as the cross-cultural adaptation were assessed by 51 specialists and experts in the field of pediatrics and child development. In order to determine the reliability of the ASQ-3 (using Cronbach's alpha), and cut-off points. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA software. This study was enrolled in 2 phases. The face and content validity, as well as the cultural relevance of the Persian version of ASQ-3 was confirmed using panel of specialists views then researchers investigated 11,740 children aged 1-66 months in order to evaluate the reliability of the tool. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients (reliability) determined for the ASQ-3 and the cut-off points for the ASQ-3 of different age groups and domains were determined by calculating one and two SDs below the mean; the latter represents the main cut-off point, and the interval between the two represents the monitoring zone according to the ASQ-3 technical manual. The results of this study showed that the Iranian version of ASQ-3 is valid and reliable; moreover, the cut-off points designated for it can be implemented in the Iranian children community to assess their developmental status.