Pilot testing of the Starship Infant Neurological Assessment tool.

Neurological assessment can be a challenge in young children because of their physical, behavioral, and cognitive immaturity. The use of an infant neurological assessment tool allows nurses to easily perform a comprehensive neurological assessment. The Starship Infant Neurological Assessment (SINA) tool is a 21-item instrument designed for use with children under 2 years of age. This study tested its reliability. Four children under 2 years old were videotaped as they were assessed using the SINA. Seven nurses viewed the tapes and indicated their assessment on the tool. Interrater analysis using intraclass correlation coefficients demonstrated good reliability for 17 of 21 items. Areas for future development and research include addition of extra items and further testing.