Standardization and adaptation of the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) for use in Tbilisi children

Gocha Chikvinidze*, Nana Geladze*, George Natriashvili,* Zurab Tsigroshvili**

Objective - To modify and standardize the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) for developmental screening of children in Tbilisi. Method - The study used a quota sample of 1006 Children of Tbilisi, aged 16 days to 6 years. The study protocol was based on the DDST. The Logistic Regression Analysis established the 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile passing age for achieving all 105 Denver Developmental Screening Test tasks. The composite norms were compared with DDST data. The differences were examined by calculating the percent differences between the comparable items. Subgroup differences in sex were analyzed by stepwise logistic regression. Modifications were introduced to improve on the sensitivity of the test and to make the test more suited to Tbilisi children. Main findings - All 105 items of DDST were used to form the new test "DDST-Tbilisi". Among the comparable items, differences between the norms of Tbilisi and Denver children greater then 10% were demonstrated in 36 items. Within the study sample of Tbilisi children, there were no statistically significant subgroup differences. Conclusions - The "DDST-Tbilisi" is substantially different from the DDST. The use of the local standardized version in clinical practice for developmental screening of Tbilisi children is justified.

Keywords:  developmental screening, Denver Developmental Screening Test, standardization, regression analysis