Absolute and relative intrarater reliability of the modified motor assessment scale according to Uppsala academic hospital -99

ABSTRACT

Background

For some of the most commonly used motor measures, psychometric properties, and minimal detectable change (MDC₉₅) remain largely unknown, limiting the interpretability of tests.

Objective

The aim was to establish intrarater reliability, MDC₉₅ and floor- and ceiling effects for a modified version of the Motor Assessment Scale (M-MAS UAS-99).

Methods

Data was derived from an intervention study that enrolled 41 individuals with chronic stroke. Test scores from two subsequent assessments with 3 weeks apart were used for establishing the floor and ceiling effect, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC_[2,1]), standard error mean (SEM) and the MDC₉₅ for the total score, and subdomains of the M-MAS UAS-99.

Results

The intrarater reliability was excellent with an ICC_[2,1] between 0.970 and 0.995 for both total score and subdomains. The MDC₉₅ for the M-MAS UAS-99 total score was 1.22 which means ≥ 2.0 points on an individual basis. For bed mobility subdomain, a ceiling effect was seen, but not for the total score of the test. No floor effect was seen for the test.

Conclusion

M-MAS UAS-99 has excellent intrarater reliability. Any individual increase in test scores must reach 2.0 to be considered a true change.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic stroke
• reliability
• minimal detectable change
• functional motor ability

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the following funding agencies for supporting the study: Aina Wallström’s and Mary-Ann Sjöblom’s Foundation; Peter Eriksson Foundation; Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils; ALF-agreement (725241); Promobilia Foundation; Swedish Stroke Association; Rune and Ulla Almlöv’s Foundation; and the Foundation for Rehabilitation and Medical Science.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2022.2122913

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils [725241];The Swedish Stroke Association;Aina Wallström’s and Mary Ann Sjöblom’s Foundation;Foundation for Rehabilitation and Medical science;Peter Eriksson Foundation;Rune and Ulla Almlöv’s Foundation;Stiftelsen Promobilia