ABSTRACT

The importance of early intervention for developmental disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, is increasingly recognized as critical to children’s later success, making it necessary to better understand how professionals who work regularly with young children view the use of developmental screening in their professional practice. This study examined knowledge and attitudes toward developmental screening practices among 130 early childcare and education providers. Survey methodology was used to collect and analyze information on providers’ perceptions of administering developmental screening, barriers to using screening in early childhood education settings, and differences in perceived barriers among providers with varying knowledge of autism spectrum disorder. Providers reported little knowledge of common screening tools but a willingness to use these tools if trained to do so. Ratings of perceived barriers to screening aligned with the behavior intentions and perceived behavioral control constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior, illustrating reasons why providers may or may not view screening as feasible in their respective settings. Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder was not related to perceived barriers to screening, suggesting that other factors need to be considered when designing early childhood screening programs. These and other implications are discussed in relation to future research and practice.

摘要

对发育障碍（例如自闭症谱系障碍）进行早期干预的重要性越来越被认为对儿童后来的成功至关重要，因此有必要更好地了解经常与幼儿一起工作的专业人士如何看待发育筛查在他们的专业实践中的使用。本研究调查了 130 名幼儿保育和教育提供者对发育筛查实践的知识和态度。调查方法用于收集和分析有关提供者对管理发育筛查的看法、在幼儿教育环境中使用筛查的障碍以及具有不同自闭症谱系障碍知识的提供者之间感知障碍的差异的信息。提供者报告说对常用筛查工具知之甚少，但如果接受培训，他们愿意使用这些工具。对筛查的感知障碍的评级与计划行为理论的行为意图和感知行为控制结构一致，说明了为什么提供者可能会或可能不会认为筛查在各自的环境中是可行的。自闭症谱系障碍的知识与感知的筛查障碍无关，这表明在设计儿童早期筛查计划时需要考虑其他因素。这些和其他影响将在未来的研究和实践中进行讨论。对筛查的感知障碍的评级与计划行为理论的行为意图和感知行为控制结构一致，说明了为什么提供者可能会或可能不会认为筛查在各自的环境中是可行的。自闭症谱系障碍的知识与感知的筛查障碍无关，这表明在设计儿童早期筛查计划时需要考虑其他因素。这些和其他影响将在未来的研究和实践中进行讨论。对筛查的感知障碍的评级与计划行为理论的行为意图和感知行为控制结构一致，说明了为什么提供者可能会或可能不会认为筛查在各自的环境中是可行的。自闭症谱系障碍的知识与感知的筛查障碍无关，这表明在设计儿童早期筛查计划时需要考虑其他因素。这些和其他影响将在未来的研究和实践中进行讨论。