Learning and Encouragement Effects on Six-Minute Walking Test in Children

To evaluate learning and encouragement effects on the 6-minute walk test in children between 6 and 12 years of age.

Two 6-minute walk tests separated by a 10-minute resting period were performed by healthy children between 6 and 12 years of age to evaluate the learning (part 1) and encouragement effects (part 2; randomization with and without encouragement). Distance and cardiorespiratory variables were used as outcomes.

148 children were recruited. The intraclass correlation coefficient estimates were 0.927 (95% CI, 0.893-0.951; part 1) and 0.844 (95% CI, 0.744-0.907; part 2). The test-retest agreement was verified for distance (P = .679) with a bias of 1.1 m (95% CI, -4 to 6), but the increase in distance with encouragement was significantly and clinically relevant (P < .001; +41 m; 95% CI, 33-50).

No training is required for the 6-minute walk test in children, in contrast with adults, but there was an encouragement effect on the walked distance in these children. Guidelines should take these results into account.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03276299.