Validity of the DF-MOT to detect motor developmental delays in preterm children: A comparative study with the Bayley-III

Abstract

Background

The Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children (DF-MOT) is a motor developmental scale originally designed and standardized for full-term children.

Aim

To validate the DF-MOT for diagnosing motor delays in preterm children, using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III), as a reference.

Study design

Prospective concurrent validity study.

Method

Seventy-six preterm children born before 32 weeks' gestational age were concurrently assessed at corrected ages of 9 to 30 months using the DF-MOT and the Bayley-III. Validation of the DF-MOT involved a three-step process: (1) raw and standardized scores correlation analysis, (2) receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to assess diagnostic accuracy, and (3) diagnostic properties analysis for the primary DF-MOT cut-offs.

Results

Correlation analysis demonstrated very strong correlation for both gross and fine motor raw scores (r = 0.95 and 0.94, respectively), and strong to weak correlation for the standardized scores (ρ = 0.66 and 0.28, respectively). The DF-MOT gross motor subscale (DF-MOT/PML) exhibited excellent diagnostic accuracy on the ROC curve analysis and good diagnostic properties at −1 standard deviation, while the fine motor subscale (DF-MOT/EHGC) appeared to be less accurate in diagnosing delay with the Bayley-III. This disparity in fine motor evaluation seems to be linked to the DF-MOT/EHGC's greater sensitivity to identify fine motor delays.

Conclusion

The DF-MOT is a valid developmental tool for assessing motor skills in preterm children, offering enhanced sensitivity in detecting fine motor delays. It may provide practitioners with in-depth, development-focused assessments.