Tests & Measures: A Resource for Pediatric Physical Therapy Practitioners

Test of Infant Motor Performance & Test of Infant Motor Performance Screening Items Article Summary

Purpose: The purpose was to determine the appropriateness of the hierarchical ordering of the test and its ability to detect variability. The researchers also wanted to determine if this test was valid and reliable with a Brazilian patient population.

 

Study population: Study population was comprised of 650 Brazilian infants where 349 were males and 301 were females. Of these group 168 infants were preterm and 482 were full term. Infants were excluded if they had MSK disorders, genetic syndromes, congenital malformation or were currently receiving physical therapy treatment.

 

Methods: A Portuguese version of the TIMP was performed on the research subjects in health units and follow up clinics. The test takes approximately 30-45 minutes to administer. The test was administered by a trained professional and video reordered.  The test has 42 items that are either categorized as observed items (OIs) or elicited items (EIs). Observed items were answered with a yes or no response. Elicited items assessed visual, auditory, and postural responses and scored based on 6 levels of difficulty. The sum of the OIs and EIs provided raw and Z scores.

 

Outcome measures: The data was analyzed by using Rasch analysis to determine difficulty.

 

Intervention: No intervention was provided.

 

Results: This test could appropriately assess and designate level of difficulty of motor performance based on TIMP score with high reliability. The Rasch scale range was 24.94 to 95.19 with a mean (57.52) and SE (1.95).

 

Strengths: The study testing environment was consistent in that it took place in a quiet well-lit room with the guardian present. Also, the allowed for interrater reliability to be measured by having 2 evaluators.

 

 

Limitations: It would be helpful to have an equal match of preterm and full-term infants utilized in the study.

 

Overall conclusion: The TIMP is a screening tool utilized to identify motor delays early on. It was determined that the TIMP 5th edition is an appropriate measure for infants in Brazil. This test has high reliability and can detect low, intermediate, and high levels of difficulty based on response to motor task.