Item reliability of the Milani-Comparetti Motor Development Screening Test.

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of interobserver and test-retest reliability of the Milani-Comparetti Motor Development Screening Test. Sixty healthy children, aged 1 through 16 months, were videotaped during administration of the Milani-Comparetti test. Four pediatric physical therapists independently viewed each videotape and scored the responses. Interobserver reliability was determined by calculation of percentage of agreement and the G statistic between a primary observer and each therapist. Forty-three children were retested within one week by the initial tester to examine test-retest reliability. Test-retest reliability was determined by percentage of agreement of items between the two test sessions and using the Kappa statistic. Interobserver percentage of agreement for the individual items on the Milani-Comparetti test ranged from 79% to 98%. The G statistic was significant for all items indicating the high percentage-of-agreement values were not due merely to chance agreement. Test-retest agreement ranged from 80% to 100%. Using Kappa statistic guidelines, excellent test-retest reliability (K greater than .75) was found for 82% of the test items, with good reliability of the remaining items. Acceptable interobserver and test-retest reliability was found for all items on the Milani-Comparetti test. Use of the Milani-Comparetti test as a clinical screening tool for prediction or follow-up of motor development in children at risk for developmental delays requires further evaluation.

Reliability of goniometric measurements of children with cerebral palsy.

The reliability of five lower-extremity goniometric measurements of 20 patients with moderate to severe hypertonicity was assessed by three pediatric physical therapists. The measurements were repeated on five of the children within one week. Intra-rater variation was less than inter-rater variation for all measurements, but variations of 10 to 15 degrees were found in inter-rater measurements. Intra-rater reliability was acceptable for measurements of hip extension, hip abduction and knee extension, but not for straight-leg raising or dorsiflexion.