USE OF THE BRUININKS-OSERETSKY TEST OF MOTOR PROFICIENCY IN OCCUPATIONAL-THERAPY

Objective. In addition to the need for good measurement tools in occup ational therapy, there is a need for the tools to be used knowledgeabl y. The purpose of this article is to investigate the usefulness of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) for both descri ptive (diagnostic) and evaluative (change over time) purposes. Method. The typical profile of subtest scores for children with mild motor pr oblems revealed that certain subtests of the BOTMP may be better indic ators of motor problems for these children than others. An analysis al so was performed to compare the use of raw (point) scores with standar d (age-adjusted) scores in evaluating change. Results. Four subtests t hat provide a greater degree of discrimination between children with a nd without motor problems were identified. Raw (points) scores were fo und to provide a more valid measure of change over time than standard (age-related) scores. Conclusion. We recommend that, for clinical use, the BOTMP subtest standard scores be used for diagnostic purposes and that the raw scores be used for evaluative purposes.