title: Cross-cultural validity of standardized motor development screening and assessment tools: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether standardized motor development screening and assessment tools that are used to evaluate motor abilities of children aged 0 to 2 years are valid in cultures other than those in which the normative sample was established.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a systematic review in which six databases were searched. Studies were selected based on inclusion/exclusion criteria and appraised for evidence level and quality. Study variables were extracted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three studies representing six motor development screening and assessment tools in 16 cultural contexts met the inclusion criteria: Alberta Infant Motor Scale (n=7), Ages and Stages Questionnaire, 3rd edition (n=2), Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (n=8), Denver Developmental Screening Test, 2nd edition (n=4), Harris Infant Neuromotor Test (n=1), and Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 2nd edition (n=1). Thirteen studies found significant differences between the cultural context and normative sample. Two studies established reliability and/or validity of standardized motor development assessments in high-risk infants from different cultural contexts. Five studies established new population norms. Eight studies described the cross-cultural adaptation of a standardized motor development assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardized motor development assessments have limited validity in cultures other than that in which the normative sample was established. Their use can result in under- or over-referral for services.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Physical Therapy, Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.affiliation: Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fetters
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009048:Motor Skills; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*