Intra- and Interrater Reliability of Remote Assessment of Transfers by Wheelchair Users Using the Transfer Assessment Instrument (Version 4.0).
Lynn A Worobey, Rachel Hibbs, Stephanie K Rigot and 4 others
PMID 33711281WHAT IT FOUND
Remote video scoring of wheelchair transfers matched in-person ratings for most items.
However, remote raters gave higher scores for the quick flight/landing phase, likely because they could replay video. Use caution when comparing remote and in-person scores.
Key findings
01Moderate to excellent reliability was found for all TAI scores when comparing remote video raters to in-person clinicians.
02Remote raters assigned significantly higher total scores and flight/landing subscores than in-person raters for the first transfer.
03A change of at least 1.23 points is required to detect significant differences in transfer skills through remote assessment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The remote rater had no prior experience with the TAI, while in-person raters were experienced, which may have influenced the score differences. Only one remote rater was used, so results do not reflect variability among different remote clinicians. The sample size for the third transfer dropped to 29, below the power calculation, making test-retest reliability less certain. The study used a mat table, not real-world surfaces like beds or chairs, so results may not generalize to home environments. Study staff set up the cameras and measured wheelchair setup items, which does not reflect the patient or caregiver doing it at home.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest were disclosed.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume remote video scores are interchangeable with in-person scores. The remote rater gave significantly higher scores for the flight/landing phase, likely because they could replay the video to catch details missed in real time. This inflates the total score compared to a single live view.