Original Title: Efectividad, seguridad y evaluación económica de las diferentes alternativas existentes en la detección precoz de las alteraciones del desarrollo psicomotor

Authors' objectives: To determine the efficiency, effectiveness and safety of the screening of psychomotor development in paediatric population in terms of quality of life and morbidity.

Authors' results and conclusions: The literature search of studies on efficiency identified a study that shows that parent’s report about their child’s development (parental concern) is the less costly intervention to detect problems of psychomotor development (PD). Regarding the costs of treatment for the services received, early intervention in relation to the speech problems and mental retardation, was less expensive than the non-intervention. To the question of whether the PD screening in children reduces the degree of disability in adulthood, it has been found only one study in relation to the delay of speech and language, which did not identify an effective method of screening or the optimal age to do it. It has not been found scientific evidence that determine the most efficient strategy to detect children with disorders of the PD. Neither have been identified studies that analyse to what extent the PD screening reduces the degree of associated disability. There is not a perfect screening tool by which there is a unanimous agreement that any signal of alarm expressed by parents or caregivers on children’s development should be taken seriously. This agreement is based on the consensus of experts.

Authors' recommendations: It is recommended to monitor the psychomotor development of all children in the scheduled health visits. In case of any doubt, a PD validated screening test should be performed. In addition, it is recommended to use the parents’ concern about their children’s development as screening strategy.

Authors' methods: The literature review was searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Lilacs databases and in the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD): NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA), and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE). The search was limited till March 2013 and was not limited by language. To obtain grey literature, a search in the websites of national and international societies, and institutions of interest was carried out: U.S Preventive Services Task Force, Spanish Paediatric Association, Spanish Paediatric Association in Primary Care, UK National Screening Committee, American Academy of Paediatrics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, hand searches from the references of the articles already identified were also completed. The types of included studies were complete economic evaluations, experimental and observational studies with control group. The selection of studies was made by applying inclusion and exclusion criteria previously established.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2016

URL for published report: https://www.iacs.es/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/757_IACS_Psicomotor-1.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Full HTA

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Health Sciences Institute in Aragon (IACS)

Contact Address: Avda, San Juan Bosco, 13, planta 2

Contact Name: María Pilar Calvo Pérez

Contact Email: direccion.iacs@aragon.es