# Assessing Usability of mHealth Autism Screeners in the Medically Underserved

> **NIH NIH R21** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $197,804

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 The NIH and the private sector have invested millions of dollars into development of mobile technology-
based (mHealth) autism screening tools, with the hope that advanced technologies will improve early
identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD]. However, no research to date has assessed how mobile
device-based ASD screening will address the problem of racial, ethnic, language, and income disparities in ASD
identification. In addition, no current efforts explicitly assess what key mHealth ASD screener adaptations are
needed for mHealth autism screeners to be successfully used by minority and low-income families and the
professionals who interact with them. In this proposal, we will examine existing mHealth ASD screeners for
overall quality and adaptability to ASD health disparities populations, by comparing them to established
mHealth standards. We will then perform user testing of key tools with a sample of racial/ethnic minority and
low-income families and health and educational providers. We will interview parents, providers, and mHealth
ASD screener developers, to understand the challenges of creating and using mHealth ASD screeners in health
disparities populations. Finally, we will use the results of this research, and the guidance of a multi-
disciplinary expert panel, to develop a set of guidelines for mHealth autism screener usability in ASD
disparities populations. We will disseminate these guidelines throughout the autism research and informatics
communities. This research will ensure that the next generation of ASD screening tools effectively reduces
disparities in ASD identification.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9942509
- **Project number:** 5R21MH120349-02
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Katharine Elizabeth Zuckerman
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $197,804
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-05 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9942509

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9942509, Assessing Usability of mHealth Autism Screeners in the Medically Underserved (5R21MH120349-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9942509. Licensed CC0.

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