Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the reliability of the measurement of stature in individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities. Methods: Using a stratified sampling method 12 subjects (mean age of 28.7±11.5), were selected from 73 subjects with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (mean age of 37.1±15.0). Each subjects'stature was measured using two measurement methods. One measured the tibia length (TL-method) and, the other measured the whole body by measuring three sections. (Division-method). 3 examiners measured all subjects using the TL-method and Division-method two times repeatedly. In addition, one examiner measured all subjects within two weeks following the initial measurement. Intra-rater reliability was calculated from single and two times measurements using each method. The Inter-rater reliability was calculated using measurement results from 2 or 3 examiners in both single and two times measurements. The correlation between values measured by the TL-method and the Division-method was calculated using Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results: The TL-method and Division-method had good intra-rater reliability (ICC>0.90, 95%CI>0.80) and good inter-rater reliability (ICC>0.90, 95%CI>0.70) in both measurement methods. For both measurement methods, inter-rater reliability was more preferable when 3 examiners measured two times repeatedly (ICC>0.90, 95%CI>0.90). There was good correlation between values measured by TL-method and the Division-method (r=0.83). Conclusions: Both TL-method and Division-method had good reliability. However, the TL-method could be considered a more useful measurement method as it can be completed more easily and in a short period of time.
