Synchronous telehealth and face-to-face administration of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale
The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a commonly used assessment for gross motor development of infants. It is typically completed face-to-face and involves a health professional observing an infant's movements while on their backs, their stomachs, in sitting, and in standing with support as needed. This study aimed to determine the agreement between the AIMS when delivered via synchronous telehealth (i.e. live video consultation) compared with face-to-face assessment.
To achieve this aim, a total of 123 infants were assessed at 4, 8, or 12 months of age. Each infant had two assessments: one face-to-face and one via live video consultation. Statistical tests were used to determine how similar the results of the two assessments were.
The study found that there was excellent agreement between the two assessments meaning the scores were very similar. When separated by age group, agreement was moderate for the 4-month-old cohort and excellent for both the 8- and 12-month-old cohorts.
