Malay translation and validation of modified checklist for autism in toddlers, revised with follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F)
2024

Malay Translation and Validation of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers

Sample size: 244 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Ariffin R. A., Ismail J., Abd Rahman F. N., Wan Ismail W. S., Ahmad N., Abdul Ghafar A., Yang W. W., Masra F., Kamal Nor N.

Primary Institution: Child Development Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre

Hypothesis

The study aimed to translate the M-CHAT-R/F into Malay and assess its reliability and validity as a screening tool for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children aged 16–30 months.

Conclusion

The Malay M-CHAT-R/F is a reliable and valid screening tool for identifying ASD in young children in Malaysia.

Supporting Evidence

  • The Malay M-CHAT-R/F showed good internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.906.
  • The sensitivity of the Malay M-CHAT-R/F was 74.4%, and specificity was 90.9%.
  • The area under the ROC curve for the Malay M-CHAT-R/F was 0.887.

Takeaway

This study created a Malay version of a questionnaire to help find children at risk for autism, making it easier for parents to understand and use.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study involving 244 children aged 16-30 months, using forward and backward translation methods for the M-CHAT-R/F and assessing reliability and validity.

Potential Biases

Potential sampling bias due to the inclusion of children already diagnosed with ASD.

Limitations

The study was conducted in a single university hospital, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to the broader Malaysian population.

Participant Demographics

Participants included children aged 16-30 months, with a majority being Malay (89.8%), and a higher prevalence of ASD in older children (24-30 months).

Statistical Information

P-Value

<0.001

Confidence Interval

(0.840, 0.933)

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3389/fped.2024.1384292

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