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[Analysis of the Test of Infant Motor Performance data from 642 infants with a postconceptual age of 38-58 weeks]
Cheng-Ju Wang1, Shu-Lin Zhao, Liang Shen
1Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. 465616386@qq.com.
Insights
Infant motor performance assessed by the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) in China showed lower scores than US norms. Establishing Chinese TIMP norms is crucial for accurate infant motor assessments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Motor Development
Background:
- The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) is a tool used to assess motor skills in infants.
- Standardized norms are essential for accurate interpretation of developmental assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare TIMP scores of infants in Chongqing, China, with established American norms.
- To evaluate the applicability of TIMP in China and the need for localized normative data.
Main Methods:
- 642 infants aged 38-58 weeks postconceptual age were assessed using TIMP.
- Data collected from three hospitals in Chongqing between January and December 2016.
- Infant scores were statistically compared against American normative data.
Main Results:
- TIMP scores demonstrated a positive correlation with increasing postconceptual age.
- All assessed infant groups exhibited significantly lower mean TIMP scores compared to American norms (P<0.001).
Conclusions:
- TIMP effectively reflects motor performance across different postconceptual ages in infants.
- Significant differences between Chinese and American TIMP scores highlight the need for developing China-specific normative data.
- Localized TIMP norms are necessary for reliable motor performance assessment in Chinese infants.
Objective:
To investigate the differences between the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) data from the infants at 38-58 weeks of postconceptual age in three hospitals in Chongqing, China and the America norms, and to provide a reference for the introduction and application of TIMP in China.
Methods:
TIMP was used to assess 642 infants with 38-58 weeks of postconceptual age who visited the departments of preterm infants or child healthcare in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Shapingba Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Chongqing, and Chongqing Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January and December, 2016. The assessment scores were analyzed and compared with the America norms.
Results:
The TIMP scores increased with the increasing postconceptual age, with 37±5 points in the 38-39+6 week group and 83±12 points in the 56-57+6 week group. All age groups had a significantly lower mean score than the America norms (P<0.001).
Conclusions:
TIMP scores can reflect the motor performance in infants with various postconceptual ages. The TIMP scores from the infants with a postconceptual age of 38-58 weeks in three hospitals in Chongqing are significantly different from the America norms, suggesting that it is very necessary in China to establish the Chinese norms for assessing motor performance in infants using TIMP.
