Alberta infant motor scale: reliability and validity when used on preterm infants in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of measurements obtained with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) for evaluation of preterm infants in Taiwan.


METHODS
Two independent groups of preterm infants were used to investigate the reliability (n=45) and validity (n=41) for the AIMS.


METHODS
In the reliability study, the AIMS was administered to the infants by a physical therapist, and infant performance was videotaped. The performance was then rescored by the same therapist and by 2 other therapists to examine the intrarater and interrater reliability. In the validity study, the AIMS and the Bayley Motor Scale were administered to the infants at 6 and 12 months of age to examine criterion-related validity.


RESULTS
Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intrarater and interrater reliability of measurements obtained with the AIMS were high (ICC=.97-.99). The AIMS scores correlated with the Bayley Motor Scale scores at 6 and 12 months (r=.78 and.90), although the AIMS scores at 6 months were only moderately predictive of the motor function at 12 months (r=.56).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that measurements obtained with the AIMS have acceptable reliability and concurrent validity but limited predictive value for evaluating preterm Taiwanese infants.
Jeng
S F
SF
School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, No. 7 Chun-Shan S Rd, Taipei, Taiwan. Jeng@ha.mc.ntu.edu. tw.
Yau
K I
KI
Chen
L C
LC
Hsiao
S F
SF
D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013624:Taiwan