Comparing probable case identification of developmental coordination disorder using the short form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency and the Movement ABC

Aim: Despite its widespread current use in research and its potential for future application, the validity of the short form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP-SF) when administered by trained lay assessors is not known. This paper reports the results of case identification using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) in a group of children scoring below the sixth percentile on the BOTMP-SF. Methods: The BOTMP-SF was administered by trained research assistants to 2058 children. In total, 24 of 128 children aged 10 (n = 10), 11 (n = 10) or 12 (n = 4) scoring below the sixth percentile were randomly selected for further assessment by a paediatric occupational therapist using the M-ABC and the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test. Results: Twenty-one of 24 children positive for motor co-ordination problems on the BOTMP-SF scored below the 15th percentile of the M-ABC, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.88 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.69 to 0.96]. Fifteen of these children were below the fifth percentile (PPV = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.43 to 0.79). Conclusions: The BOTMP-SF seems to be a reasonable alternative to case identification when clinical assessment with the M-ABC is not feasible. Further research is needed to examine the sensitivity and specificity of the short form when used for this purpose