Watch me grow integrated (WMG-I): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a web-based surveillance approach for developmental screening in primary care settings

Valsamma Eapen; Siaw-Teng Liaw; Raghu Lingam; Susan Woolfenden; Bin Jalaludin; Andrew Page; Jane Kohlhoff; James G Scott; K D Lawson; Christa Lam-Cassettari; Helen Heussler; Joseph Descallar; Lisa Karlov; Natalie Ong; Paul B Colditz; Robyn Littlewood; Elisabeth Murphy; April Deering; Kate Short; Pankaj Garg; Victoria Blight; Kim Rodgers; Lucille Chalmers; Kerri-Lyn Webb; Heidi Atkins; Dana Newcomb; Rachael Beswick; Clare Thomas; Catherine Marron; Aaron Chambers; Sue Scheinpflug; Matt Statham; Dimuthu Samaranayake; Paul Chay; Chun Wah Michael Tam; Feroza Khan; Antonio Mendoza Diaz; Sara Cibralic; Teresa Winata; Margo Pritchard

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065823

Watch me grow integrated (WMG-I): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a web-based surveillance approach for developmental screening in primary care settings

BMJ Open. 2022 Aug 17;12(8):e065823. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065823.

Authors

Valsamma Eapen^{1

2}, Siaw-Teng Liaw³, Raghu Lingam³, Susan Woolfenden^{3

4}, Bin Jalaludin^{5

6}, Andrew Page⁷, Jane Kohlhoff^{3

8}, James G Scott^{9

10}, K D Lawson⁷, Christa Lam-Cassettari^{2

11}, Helen Heussler^{12

13}, Joseph Descallar^{6

11}, Lisa Karlov^{3

5}, Natalie Ong^{3

14}, Paul B Colditz⁹, Robyn Littlewood^{12

15}, Elisabeth Murphy¹⁶, April Deering¹⁶, Kate Short⁵, Pankaj Garg^{3

5}, Victoria Blight⁵, Kim Rodgers⁵, Lucille Chalmers¹⁷, Kerri-Lyn Webb¹⁸, Heidi Atkins¹⁹, Dana Newcomb^{20

21}, Rachael Beswick¹⁹, Clare Thomas¹⁹, Catherine Marron¹⁹, Aaron Chambers²⁰, Sue Scheinpflug¹⁷, Matt Statham¹⁷, Dimuthu Samaranayake²², Paul Chay^{3

5}, Chun Wah Michael Tam^{3

5}, Feroza Khan¹¹, Antonio Mendoza Diaz¹¹, Sara Cibralic⁶, Teresa Winata^{23

24}, Margo Pritchard²⁵

Affiliations

¹ ICAMHS, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia v.eapen@unsw.edu.au.
² Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ Sydney Institute for Women, Children and their Families, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith South, New South Wales, Australia.
⁸ Karitane, Villawood, New South Wales, Australia.
⁹ The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁰ QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
¹¹ Academic Unit of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
¹² Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
¹³ Centre for Children's Health Research, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁴ Sydney Institute for Women, Children and their Families, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁵ Health and Wellbeing, Milton, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁶ New South Wales Ministry of Health, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁷ Brisbane South PHN, Upper Mount Gravatt, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁸ Developmental Paediatrics, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁹ Queensland Child & Youth Clinical Network, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
²⁰ Integrated Care, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
²¹ The University of Queensland Primary Care Clinical Unit, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
²² School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith South, New South Wales, Australia.
²³ ICAMHS, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.
²⁴ Academic Unit of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
²⁵ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia.

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of developmental disorders in early childhood poses a significant global health burden. Early detection of developmental problems is vital to ensure timely access to early intervention, and universal developmental surveillance is recommended best practice for identifying issues. Despite this, there is currently considerable variation in developmental surveillance and screening between Australian states and territories and low rates of developmental screening uptake by parents. This study aims to evaluate an innovative web-based developmental surveillance programme and a sustainable approach to referral and care pathways, linking primary care general practice (GP) services that fall under federal policy responsibility and state government-funded child health services.

Methods and analysis: The proposed study describes a longitudinal cluster randomised controlled trial (c-RCT) comparing a 'Watch Me Grow Integrated' (WMG-I) approach for developmental screening, to Surveillance as Usual (SaU) in GPs. Forty practices will be recruited across New South Wales and Queensland, and randomly allocated into either the (1) WMG-I or (2) SaU group. A cohort of 2000 children will be recruited during their 18-month vaccination visit or opportunistic visit to GP. At the end of the c-RCT, a qualitative study using focus groups/interviews will evaluate parent and practitioner views of the WMG-I programme and inform national and state policy recommendations.

Ethics and dissemination: The South Western Sydney Local Health District (2020/ETH01625), UNSW Sydney (2020/ETH01625) and University of Queensland (2021/HE000667) Human Research Ethics Committees independently reviewed and approved this study. Findings will be reported to the funding bodies, study institutes and partners; families and peer-reviewed conferences/publications.

Trial registration number: ANZCTR12621000680864.

Keywords: community child health; developmental neurology & neurodisability; paediatrics; preventive medicine; primary care.

Publication types

Clinical Trial Protocol
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Child
Child Health Services*
Child, Preschool
Humans
Internet
Mass Screening*
Primary Health Care
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic