Comparison of Two Methods of Training Student Physical Therapists to Score the Gross Motor Function Measure

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of two different training methods for scoring the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Fourteen physical therapy students were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The Manual group trained with the manual alone, whereas the CD-ROM group trained with the GMFM CD-ROM training package plus the manual. A weighted kappa estimate was used to determine the agreement of scores between the subjects and experts using the same videotaped test of children with cerebral palsy. Both subject groups' average kappa scores exceeded the criterion level of 0.80 (Manual group = 0.85, CD-ROM group = 0.84). No significant difference in kappa scores was found between the two groups (t = 0.1354, p = 0.45). However, a significant difference was found in mean training time (Manual group = 2.75 hours, CD-ROM group = 4.07 hours; t = - 1.7552, p = 0.05). This suggests that training with the manual alone is a more time efficient means of achieving competence on the GMFM.