Plattner IE, Mbakile-Mahlanza L, Marobela S, Kgolo TJF, Monyane-Pheko MMB, Patel V, Feinstein A. Developing a Computerized Brief Cognitive Screening Battery for Botswana: A Feasibility Study.
Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2019;
34:682-689. [PMID:
30165575 DOI:
10.1093/arclin/acy071]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine the feasibility of using a brief computerized battery for assessing cognition in citizens of Botswana.
METHOD
A group of 134 healthy subjects were administered a brief computerized battery of tests (Stroop, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (c-SDMT), and 2 and 4 second versions of the Paced Visual Serial Addition Test (PVSAT)). Half the subjects were tested in English and the other half in Setswana.
RESULTS
All subjects completed the 20 min battery. Participants administered the tests in English had more years of education (p < .001) and were more likely to be male (p = .024) than those administered the tests in Setswana. There were no significant cognitive differences between the English and Setswana groups. Predictors of cognition were education (c-SDMT, PVSAT 4 and 2 second versions), age (Stroop, c-SDMT), and sex (c-SDMT), with females performing better than males on the latter. Language was not associated with performance on any of the cognitive tests and there were no significant interactions between language and any of the demographic predictors of cognition.
CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate that our brief computerized approach is feasible with similar findings obtained for both language groups. Two further phases to the development of the Botswana version of the brief computerized battery can now proceed. The first is to obtain normative data from a larger sample representative of Botswana society in general. The second will be to validate the cognitive measures in a sample of people with acquired brain injury using the normative data to determine thresholds for impairment.
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