OBJECTIVES: To provide further evidence of the test-retest reliability and agreement of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC), a standardized motor test used for identification and evaluation of children with mild to moderate motor impairment. Both the stability of total test scores and classification according to specified cut-off points were examined. DESIGN AND SETTING: Children were tested on the M-ABC, three times with an interval of three weeks between each assessment. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-three 4- and 5-year-old children with poor motor performance, 24 boys and 9 girls. RESULTS: A systematic practice effect between three consecutive testing sessions was shown. This was significant for the total score and two of the three subscores. Test-retest reliability of the total test score yielded an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.88. The total impairment score ranged between 0 and 40. The standard error of measurement (SEM) of this score was 2.4, resulting in a least detectable difference of 6.6 (with alpha set at 5%). The agreement over three testing sessions (kappa) was 0.72. CONCLUSIONS: The total impairment score of the M-ABC is a reliable measure for identification of mild to moderate motor impairment in young children. Repeated testing on the M-ABC at intervals of three weeks results in a systematic measurement error and is not recommended. The SEM is substantial. Follow-up of preschool children with the M-ABC as a single outcome measure is not appropriate.
OBJECTIVES: To provide further evidence of the test-retest reliability and agreement of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC), a standardized motor test used for identification and evaluation of children with mild to moderate motor impairment. Both the stability of total test scores and classification according to specified cut-off points were examined. DESIGN AND SETTING:Children were tested on the M-ABC, three times with an interval of three weeks between each assessment. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-three 4- and 5-year-old children with poor motor performance, 24 boys and 9 girls. RESULTS: A systematic practice effect between three consecutive testing sessions was shown. This was significant for the total score and two of the three subscores. Test-retest reliability of the total test score yielded an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.88. The total impairment score ranged between 0 and 40. The standard error of measurement (SEM) of this score was 2.4, resulting in a least detectable difference of 6.6 (with alpha set at 5%). The agreement over three testing sessions (kappa) was 0.72. CONCLUSIONS: The total impairment score of the M-ABC is a reliable measure for identification of mild to moderate motor impairment in young children. Repeated testing on the M-ABC at intervals of three weeks results in a systematic measurement error and is not recommended. The SEM is substantial. Follow-up of preschool children with the M-ABC as a single outcome measure is not appropriate.
Authors: Rainer Blank; Anna L Barnett; John Cairney; Dido Green; Amanda Kirby; Helene Polatajko; Sara Rosenblum; Bouwien Smits-Engelsman; David Sugden; Peter Wilson; Sabine Vinçon Journal: Dev Med Child Neurol Date: 2019-01-22 Impact factor: 5.449
Authors: Marlou L A de Kroon; Willem G van Kernebeek; Britta F Neve; Jessica M Ter Veer; Sijmen A Reijneveld; Henrica C W de Vet; Huub M Toussaint Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-11-20 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Geir K Resaland; Vegard Fusche Moe; Eivind Aadland; Jostein Steene-Johannessen; Øyvind Glosvik; John R Andersen; Olav M Kvalheim; Heather A McKay; Sigmund A Anderssen Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-07-28 Impact factor: 3.295