title: Testing fine motor coordination via telehealth: Effects of video characteristics on reliability and validity.
abstract: Background There is limited research about the effects of video quality on the accuracy of assessments of physical function. Methods A repeated measures study design was used to assess reliability and validity of the finger-nose test (FNT) and the finger-tapping test (FTT) carried out with 50 veterans who had impairment in gross and/or fine motor coordination. Videos were scored by expert raters under eight differing conditions, including in-person, high definition video with slow motion review and standard speed videos with varying bit rates and frame rates. Results FTT inter-rater reliability was excellent with slow motion video (ICC 0.98-0.99) and good (ICC 0.59) under the normal speed conditions. Inter-rater reliability for FNT 'attempts' was excellent (ICC 0.97-0.99) for all viewing conditions; for FNT 'misses' it was good to excellent (ICC 0.89) with slow motion review but substantially worse (ICC 0.44) on the normal speed videos. FTT criterion validity (i.e. compared to slow motion review) was excellent (β = 0.94) for the in-person rater and good ( β = 0.77) on normal speed videos. Criterion validity for FNT 'attempts' was excellent under all conditions ( r ≥ 0.97) and for FNT 'misses' it was good to excellent under all conditions ( β = 0.61-0.81). Conclusions In general, the inter-rater reliability and validity of the FNT and FTT assessed via video technology is similar to standard clinical practices, but is enhanced with slow motion review and/or higher bit rate.
authors.affiliation: 1 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA.|2 Department of Medicine/Geriatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hoenig
authors.affiliation: 1 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Kristopher
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amis
authors.affiliation: 1 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.affiliation: 3 Center for Aging & Human Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: 3 Center for Aging & Human Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Landerman
authors.affiliation: 4 Speech and Audiology, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caves
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000592:standards*; D014728:Veterans; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Telemedicine; coordination impairment; motor skills; psychometrics; task performance and analysis