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Validation of the Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children to predict motor outcome in preterm infants:
Ludovic Legros1,2, Sophie Zaczek2, Anne Mostaert1,2
1Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, CHR Sambre Et Meuse, Namur, Belgium.
Insights
The Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children (DF-mot) has limited accuracy in predicting motor delays in preterm infants at two years old. Its gross motor subscale showed some predictive ability, but the fine motor subscale did not.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Motor Development
Background:
- Preterm infants are at higher risk for motor developmental delays.
- Accurate prediction of motor delays is crucial for timely intervention.
- The Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children (DF-mot) is a tool used to assess motor skills in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictive validity of the DF-mot scale for identifying motor developmental delays in preterm infants.
- To compare the predictive performance of the DF-mot with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study involving 67 preterm infants.
- Infants were assessed at 3-5 months using DF-mot and AIMS.
- Motor outcomes were assessed at 22-25 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant-Toddler Development (Bayley-III).
Main Results:
- The DF-mot gross motor subscale, at -2 SD, and the AIMS, at the 10th centile, demonstrated the best balance of sensitivity and specificity in predicting motor delays.
- DF-mot gross motor: Se=57.1%, Sp=71.7%. AIMS: Se=50%, Sp=73.5%.
- The DF-mot fine motor subscale was ineffective in predicting motor delays.
Conclusions:
- The DF-mot scale exhibits insufficient sensitivity and positive predictive value for accurately forecasting motor outcomes at two years in preterm infants.
- The gross motor component of DF-mot shows some predictive potential, but overall, the scale requires further validation for this population.
Objective:
To examine the validity of the Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children (DF-mot) to predict motor developmental delays in preterm infants.
Method:
This retrospective cohort study includes 67 preterm infants who were assessed at 3-5 months by the DF-mot and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); and at 22-25 months by the Bayley Scales of Infant-Toddler Development (Bayley-III). The properties of the DF-mot and the AIMS were examined based on their ability to predict motor delays on the Bayley-III.
Results:
The DF-mot gross motor subscale -2 SD and the AIMS 10th centile showed best balance between sensitivity and specificity (respectively Se = 57.1%, Sp = 71.7% and Se = 50%, Sp = 73.5%). Overall, the DF-mot fine motor subscale fails to predict motor delays.
Conclusion:
The DF-mot shows a lack of sensitivity and of positive predictive value to accurately predict motor outcome at 2 years in preterm infants.
Abbreviations:
CA, Corrected age; AIMS, Alberta Infant Motor Scale; DF-mot/PML, Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children postural motor locomotor; DF-mot/EHGC, Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children eye-hand grip coordination; Bayley-III/GM, Gross motor subscale of the Bayley Scales of Infant-Toddler Development Third Edition; Bayley-III/FM, Fine motor subscale of the Bayley Scales of Infant-Toddler Development Third Edition.
