title: Operationalisation of the European Protocol for Autism Prevalence (EPAP) for Autism Spectrum Disorder Prevalence Measurement in Ireland.
abstract: The European Autism Information System project highlighted the lack of systematic and reliable data relating to the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in Europe. A protocol for the study of ASD prevalence at European level was developed to facilitate a common format for screening and diagnosing children across the EU. This is the first study to operationalise and screen national school children for ASDs using this protocol. National school children 6-11 years (N = 7951) were screened males 54 % (N = 4268) females 46 % (N = 3683). Screening children for ASD implementing the EAIS protocol using the Social Communication Questionnaire (Rutter et al. in Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). Western Psychological Services, Los Angeles, ) as a first level screening instrument in a non-clinical setting of Irish national schools was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Boilson
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Staines
authors.affiliation: The Hope Project, Scarriff, Ogonnelloe, Co. Clare, Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Melchor Fernández Almagro 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Posada
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland, UK. maryrose.sweeney@dcu.ie.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sweeney
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Autism spectrum disorders; Childhood; Epidemiology; Prevalence; Screening