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Background Accurate early identification of children with low language ability is important but existing measures generally have low sensitivity. This remains an area of concern for preventive and public health services. This study aimed to create and evaluate a measure of child language, communication and related risks which can be used by community health nurses to accurately identify children with low language aged 24–30 months. Methods The Early Language Identification Measure (ELIM) was developed and comprised five measurement sections, each measuring different aspects of development combined into a single measure. This was tested blind against a reference standard language measure, the Preschool Language Scale-5 (PLS-5), at the universal 24–30-month health visitor review in England. The threshold for likely low language was the tenth centile or below on the PLS-5. The aim was to ascertain the performance of the five individual sections in the scale, and consider the optimum combination of sections, for predicting low language ability. Specificity, sensitivity, and positive and negative predictive values were reported for each of the five sections of the ELIM alone and in conjunction with each other. The performance for children from monolingual English-speaking families and those who spoke languages other than English were also considered separately. Results Three hundred and seventy-six children were assessed on both the ELIM identification measure and the PLS-5 with 362 providing complete data. While each section of the ELIM predicted low language ability, the optimal combination for predicting language outcome was the parent reported vocabulary checklist coupled with the practitioner observation of the child’s communication and related behaviours. This gave a sensitivity of 0·98 with a specificity of 0·63. Conclusions A novel measure has been developed which accurately identifies children at risk of low language, allowing clinicians to target resources efficiently and intervene early.

IntroductionThe Alarm Distress BaBy (ADBB) scale developed by Guedeney and Fermanian in 2001, is a validated screening tool designed for use by healthcare practitioners to identify infant social withdrawal. This study will explore the acceptability and feasibility of the use of the full ADBB scale and a modified ADBB (m-ADBB) scale as part of routine health visiting visits in England.Methods and analysisA mixed methods sequential exploratory design will be used. Five health visitors will be trained in using the ADBB scale and 20 in the m-ADBB scale, from two National Health Service sites in England. Qualitative semi-structured interviews will be carried out with health visitors after they receive the training and again 2 months after using the scales in routine family health visits. Quantitative data will also be collected from the same participants for a range of items during the study period. The theoretical framework of Normalisation Process Theory will underpin the study, to provide in-depth explanations of the implementation process. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive analysis.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was granted by the University of Oxford Departmental Research Ethics Committee. Dissemination of results will be via organisational websites, social media platforms, newsletters, professional networks, conferences and journal articles.

IntroductionMany people quit smoking during pregnancy, but postpartum smoking relapse is common. Maintaining smoking abstinence achieved during pregnancy is key to improving maternal and child health. There are no evidence-based interventions for preventing postpartum smoking relapse. This trial aims to determine whether an intervention to prevent postpartum relapse is effective and cost-effective.Methods and analysisA randomised controlled trial of a complex intervention to prevent postpartum smoking relapse (BabyBreathe), with internal pilot, economic and process evaluations. Participants are adults who are pregnant and who report having quit smoking in the 12 months before, or during pregnancy. Participants are eligible if they read and understand English, and provide informed consent. Following consent and biochemical validation of smoking abstinence, participants are randomised to intervention or usual care/control (no specific relapse prevention support). The BabyBreathe intervention consists of manualised advice from a trained member of the health visiting service, health information leaflets for participants and partners, access to the BabyBreathe website and app. At the time of birth, participants are posted the BabyBreathe box and support is provided by text message for up to 12 months postpartum. Target sample size is 880, recruiting across midwifery services at four hubs in England and Scotland and through remote advertising in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Outcomes are collected at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome is self-reported sustained smoking abstinence at 12 months, carbon monoxide verified. Secondary outcomes include self-reported abstinence, time to relapse, partner smoking status and quality of life.Ethics and disseminationThe trial was approved by the North West Preston Research Ethics committee (21/NW/0017). Dissemination will include publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentation at academic and public conferences including patient and public involvement and to policymakers and practitioners.Trial registration numberISRCTN70307341

Background and objectiveLow language ability in early childhood is a strong predictor of later psychopathology as well as reduced school readiness, lower educational attainment, employment problems and involvement with the criminal justice system. Assessment of early language development is universally offered in many countries, but there has been little evaluation of assessment tools. We planned to compare the screening performance of two commonly used language assessment instruments.MethodsA pragmatic diagnostic accuracy study was carried out in five areas of England comparing the performance of two screening tools (Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and Sure Start Language Measure (SSLM)) against a reference test (Preschool Language Scale, 5th edition).ResultsResults were available for 357 children aged 23–30 months. The ASQ Communication Scale using optimal cut-off values had a sensitivity of 0.55, a specificity of 0.95 and positive and negative predictive values of 0.53 and 0.95, respectively. The SSLM had corresponding values of 0.83, 0.81, 0.33 and 0.98, respectively. Both screening tools performed relatively poorly in families not using English exclusively in the home.ConclusionThe very widely used ASQ Communication Scale performs poorly as a language screening tool, missing over one-third of cases of low language ability. The SSLM performed better as a screening tool.

The Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) is a validated observation tool, designed for use by healthcare practitioners to identify infant social withdrawal. A modified version (m-ADBB) was later developed as a clinically useful behavioural tool. However, neither version has been tested in the UK context. This study aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of using the ADBB and m-ADBB within universal health visiting practice in England. A mixed methods convergent parallel design was used. Five health visitors were trained in the ADBB and 20 in the m-ADBB, from two National Health Service (NHS) community sites in England. Quantitative data were collected from health visitors, while qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with health visitors and service managers, guided by Normalisation Process Theory (NPT). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data and descriptive analysis for the quantitative data. NPT provided a framework for analysing the implementation process in routine health visitor practice. The m-ADBB was used with 225 babies and behaviour concerns were identified in 23 babies (10%). Eleven themes were identified, aligned with the four NPT constructs: (1) Coherence: perceived uniqueness of the scale, new vocabulary for articulating baby behaviour, enrichment of existing knowledge and skills; (2) Cognitive participation: commitment to the use of the ADBB/m-ADBB, consolidation of new practice; (3) Collective action: implementation of the m-ADBB scale in routine practice, organisation and management support, existing systems and pathways for children and families and (4) Reflexive monitoring: perceived benefits of integrating the scales in practice, quality assurance for embedding the scales in practice, appraisal of the training and scales in practice. The ADBB/m-ADBB was perceived to have enhanced the health visitors' skills and knowledge in infant observation. The m-ADBB required minimal additional time and was highly acceptable to health visitors. These findings have significant implications for health visiting practice and future research.

The article outlines the initial perceptions of student specialist community public health nurses (SCPHN) (health visitors, school nurses and sexual health advisers) on the role of the qualified health visitor, school nurse and sexual health advisor. It considers how students undertaking the BSc (hons)/Post Graduate Diploma specialist community public health nursing programme conceptualise their future public health role. The paper identifies themes drawn from a class-based teaching session with a large group of SCPHN students using the medium of art and student drawings. This was followed by classroom discussion and a subsequent mapping exercise. Several themes emerged with emphasis on the personal attributes and role of the public health nurse. The paper concludes that SCPHN students have a relevant knowledge base upon which to develop their future public health roles, as well as identifying clear gaps in their knowledge base at the early stage of the SCPHN programme.