A comprehensive evaluation of the Korean version of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) has been conducted to determine its safety and effectiveness in monitoring motor development and identifying developmental delays in infants under 19 months corrected age. This assessment aligns with the regulations set forth by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and the New Medical Technology Evaluation Committee.
Evaluation Process and Methodology
The evaluation involved a systematic literature review, encompassing both domestic and international databases, to gather relevant studies on the Korean AIMS. A total of 822 articles were initially identified, with 514 remaining after removing duplicates. Applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, only two diagnostic evaluation studies were deemed suitable for final assessment. These studies focused on the reliability and validity of the Korean AIMS in differentiating motor development among healthy full-term infants and those born preterm or with brain injuries.
Findings and Implications
The selected studies revealed that while the Korean AIMS is safe for use, its effectiveness is currently limited by insufficient evidence. Reliability metrics showed strong interrater and intrarater consistency in assessing motor skills across different postures and age groups. However, validity assessments indicated that more extensive research is necessary to establish the tool as a standard diagnostic measure in Korea.
- The Korean AIMS demonstrates high reliability in measuring motor skills among preterm and full-term infants.
- Initial validity results are promising but highlight the need for further studies to confirm effectiveness.
- Translation and cultural adaptation processes require rigorous validation to ensure accuracy and applicability.
Despite its safe application, the Korean AIMS has not yet met the comprehensive validity standards necessary for it to be widely adopted as a standard tool. The subcommittee unanimously agreed that additional research, including multicenter studies and comparisons with established assessment tools like the GMFM, is essential to strengthen the evidence supporting the Korean AIMS.
In light of these findings, experts recommend proceeding with the tool’s validation through extensive research initiatives. Such efforts should focus on enhancing the translation accuracy, cultural relevance, and establishing robust normative data tailored to the Korean infant population. This approach will ensure that the Korean AIMS can reliably serve its intended purpose in clinical settings.
The conclusion underscores the Korean AIMS as a promising tool that, while currently safe, requires more substantial evidence to fully validate its efficacy in early motor development assessment. Clinicians and researchers are encouraged to participate in forthcoming studies to solidify the tool’s standing as a reliable standard in Korea.
Moving forward, the integration of the Korean AIMS into clinical practice hinges on securing comprehensive validation and establishing standardized normative data. This will facilitate early detection and intervention for infants at risk of motor development delays, ultimately enhancing child health outcomes in Korea.
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