The Spanish version of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale: Validity and reliability analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Validity and reliability of the cross-cultural adaptive translation of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), to monitor gross motor development in infants from 0 to 18 months of age, were evaluated. Methods: A cross-cultural translation was used to generate a Spanish version of the AIMS. Fifty infants at risk or with diagnosis of motor delay, 0–18 months of age, participated in this study. Two independent physical therapists scored infants on the AIMS. Concurrent validity was tested using the AIMS and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development – III (Bayley – III). Results: Reliability and the internal consistency were high (ICCs ranged from 0.94 to 1.00 and KR-20 ranged from 0.90 to 0.98, respectively). AIMS and Bayley – III scores correlated strongly (r = 0.97). Conclusion: The Spanish version of the AIMS presented excellent validity and reliability. Further studies are suggested in order to assess the AIMS in preterm babies.

Keywords:

• Alberta Infant Motor Scale
• infants
• internal consistency
• motor development
• validity
• reliability

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the multidisciplinary team of the Unitat d’Estimulació Precoç of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and the Centre de Desenvolupament Infantil i Atenció Precoç of the same hospital, who cared for these infants and their families who made the effort to make sure their children received adequate follow-up and agreed to take part in the study. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the collaboration of Elsevier giving us permission to use the AIMS.

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.