Abstract
Objective: Determine whether the Tinetti Assessment Tool (TAT) is a reliable assessment tool to use with those with mental retardation (MR). Determine interrater reliability and agreement between investigators for each of the 16 items of the TAT.
Design: Correlation/reliability.
Setting: Mental health/MR institutional facility.
Participants: Convenience sample of 40 ambulatory subjects with IQ < 70.
Interventions: Subjects were observed simultaneously but assessed independently in their daily environment. Gait, balance, and a total TAT scores were determined.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Interrater reliability and agreement for each item of the TAT and subtest data of balance and gait.
Results: Seventy-five percent of the individuals tested were able to complete all of the 16 items of the TAT. Results reflected no significant difference between raters in the total score and subtest scores of balance and gait. Interrater reliability was found to be high at 0.89 for total TAT.
Conclusions: The feasibility of performing the TAT in those with MR was found to be good. Interrater reliability was high and comparable with reliability scores obtained when administering the TAT with an elderly population.