Inter-rater reliability of the Top Down Motor Milestone Test: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the inter-rater reliability of the Top Down Motor Milestone Test, which is the first step of the Mobility Opportunities Via Education programme in children with motor disabilities.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Neurosensory Developmental Unit of a tertiary hospital.

SUBJECTS

Parents of 21 children with motor disabilities were interviewed and scored on the Top Down Motor Milestone Test.

METHODS

The subjects were interviewed by one therapist while two other therapists observed the interview procedure. All three therapists were blinded to each other's scores.

RESULTS

Inter-rater reliability was analysed for all the 16 subtests using the inter-rater kappa. The pooled kappa was done for the three raters. The standard error and the P-value were also calculated. The value of inter-rater kappa for individual subtests ranged from 0.74 to 0.96. Pooled kappa for the Top Down Motor Milestone Test was 0.88 with standard error 0.06 and P-value<0.01.

CONCLUSION

The inter-rater reliability of the Top Down Motor Milestone Test proved to be good for each subtest and for the whole test.