Developing and validating the exercise protocol in early intervention treatment programs for early-term babies

Background. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a new exercise protocol for early intervention programs using VA cues and TVP stimulation for early-term babies. This includes evaluating the protocol and supporting its implementation in early intervention through expert content validation. Methods. A five-point Likert scale was used to validate 10 online questions with the input of 15 experts. Reliability was tested in 30 babies aged between 3 and 6 months. A key challenge was to create a psychometrically reliable, practical, and efficient questionnaire for both clinical and research applications. This article outlines the guidelines used for the development and validation process, with a particular emphasis on developmental milestones. Various statistical techniques were employed to assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaire and ensure its psychometric quality. The exercise protocol was specifically designed for use with early-term babies. Results. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.883, indicating an excellent level of internal consistency among the scale items. Conclusion. Based on the Cronbach’s alpha analysis, the developed exercise protocol is effective in reducing the risk of future developmental delays.