Feasibility of App-Based and Caregiver-Reported Autism Screening in Hospital and Community Settings in Southern Sri Lanka – 2026

The Duke–Ruhuna Collaborative Research Centre (DRCRC) has initiated the study “Feasibility of App-Based and Caregiver-Reported Autism Screening in Hospital and Community Settings in Southern Sri Lanka.” The study is conducted through the DRCRC in collaboration with and funded by Duke-National University of Singapore (Duke-NUS) Medical School.

 

The project is supervised by Professor Truls Ostbye (Duke-NUS PI) and Professor Champa Wijesinghe (FOM, UOR PI), with Dr. Chandanie Senadheera (FOM, UOR) and Ms. Zixuan Kong (Master’s Student, Duke Global Health Institute) serving as Co-Investigators.

 

The study aims to assess the feasibility of using app-based and caregiver-reported autism screening approaches among young children in hospital and community settings in Southern Sri Lanka. Early identification of autism-related developmental concerns is important for facilitating timely assessment and access to appropriate developmental support.

 

The study is expected to provide valuable insights into the feasibility of implementing accessible autism screening approaches within hospital and community settings and contribute to strengthening early developmental screening and research in Sri Lanka.