Reliability, validity and normative data of the Italian version of the Bus Story test.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluation of the reliability and the validity of the Italian version of the Bus Story Test (I-BST), providing normative data in Italian children.

METHODS

A total of 552 normally developing children (278 males and 274 females) aged 3; 6 to 9; 0 years, were enrolled. Test-retest, intra- and inter-rater reliability were analysed on a sample of respectively 145, 178 and 178 children. Normative data were gathered from all the enrolled children and estimate centiles according to the CG-LMS method provided. The children were divided into 11 age classes of six months each; percentile scores and standard error measurement were analysed in children from age class 4; 0-4; 5 years to age class 8; 6-811 years. Age effects on I-BST were analysed.

RESULTS

Results showed high test-retest, intra- and inter-rater reliability scores. A significant age effect on I-BST scores emerged from the ANOVA test analysis; in particular, as age increases, so do I-BST scores.

CONCLUSION

The I-BST is a reliable and valid tool. The availability of normative data for Italian speaking children may help clinicians during clinical assessment.