Affiliations: [a] Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| [b] Department of Occupational Therapy, Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| [c] School of Nursing, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| [d] Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| [e] Good Shepherd Rehabilitation, Allentown, PA, USA
| [f] Pediatric Therapy Specialists, Inc., Avonworth School District, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Sarah E. Wallace, Duquesne University, 410 Fisher Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA. Tel.: +1 412 396 4219; Fax: +1 412 396 4196; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Electronic cognitive assessment tools present potential benefits for clinical practice; however, they warrant examination before use with clinical populations such as people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). OBJECTIVE:The primary study purpose was to compare results from a tablet-based, electronic cognitive assessment to two paper cognitive assessments when administered to adults with TBI. We also explored the effect of iPad comfort on performance. METHODS:We employed a quasi-experimental, correlational study design. Forty adults between 18 to 615 months post TBI completed the Standardized Touchscreen Assessment of Cognition (STAC), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test (CLQT) in a systematically, counterbalanced order. We compared participants’ performance on these tools and examined the effect of iPad comfort. RESULTS:Three STAC subtests had a good relationship with CLQT subtests: orientation, generative naming category, and generative naming first letter. A good relationship was also identified between two STAC and two MoCA subtests: orientation and generative naming first letter. People who were very comfortable using the iPad performed statistically better on the STAC first letter fluency item than participants who were not comfortable. CONCLUSIONS:Moderate correlations suggest validity for some STAC items; however, modifications and further testing are needed.
Keywords: Cognitive assessment, electronic assessment, mobile technology, traumatic
brain injury
