Objective: To verify the concurrent validity and interobserver reliability of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) in premature infants followed-up at the outpatient clinic of Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IFF/ Fiocruz), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. infants between 0 and 18 months were assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, by two different observers and the results analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
Methods
Results:The concurrent validity study found a high level of correlation between the two scales (r = 0.95) and one that was statistically significant (p < 0.01) for the entire population of infants, with higher values at 12 months (r = 0.89) than at 6 months (r = 0.74). The interobserver reliability study found satisfactory intraclass correlation coefficients at all ages tested, varying from 0.76 to 0.99.
Conclusions:The AIMS is a valid and reliable instrument for the evaluation of motor development in high-risk infants within the Brazilian public health system. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2008;84(5):442-448: Prematurity, child development, assessment, Alberta Infant Motor Scale, validity and reliability.