Currently, in Romania the general practitioner does not use screening tests to detect the developmental problems in children. That might be the reason why many cases are diagnosed too late.
Aim: To evaluate the impact and the usefulness of a screening tool for neurodevelopmental disorders in primary care.
Material and methods: This trans-sequential study was carried out a on a series of 324 children under the age of 5 in the interval January 2007-December 2010. The neurodevelopmental status of the children was assessed by two methods: routine clinical assessment, and ASQ screening tools.
Results: Compared to routine assessment, by which 33 children (10,2%) with development delays have been detected, the use of parent-addressed questionnaires raised the detection percentage to 12% (6 more children). The use of parent-addressed questionnaires also improved the doctor-patient communication, increased the degree of parental involvement in their child's development stimulation, especially with regard to the malfunctions in verbal and cognitive behavior.
Conclusions: The use of validated screening tests is a goal for improving the primary care practice.