Point-of-care testing using a neuropsychology pocketcard set

  • Neurocognitive screening instruments usually require printed sheets and additional accessories, and can be unsuitable for low-threshold use during ward rounds or emergency workup, especially in patients with motor impairments. Here, we test the utility of a newly developed neuropsychology pocketcard set for point-of-care testing. For aphasia and neglect assessment, modified versions of the Language Screening Test and the Bells Test were validated on 63 and 60 acute stroke unit patients, respectively, against expert clinical evaluation and the original pen-and-paper Bells Test. The pocketcard aphasia test achieved an excellent area under the curve (AUC) of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.88–1, \(\it p\) < 0.001). Using an optimal cut-off of \(\geq\)2 mistakes, sensitivity was 91% and specificity was 81%. The pocketcard Bells Task, measured against the clinical neglect diagnosis, achieved higher sensitivity (89%) and specificity (88%) than the original paper-based instrument (78% and 75%, respectively). Separately, executive function tests (modified versions of the Trail Making Test [TMT] A and B, custom Stroop color naming task, vigilance 'A' Montreal Cognitive Assessment item) were validated on 44 inpatients with epilepsy against the EpiTrack® test battery. Pocketcard TMT performance was significantly correlated with the original EpiTrack® versions (A: \(\it r\) = 0.64, \(\it p\) < 0.001; B: \(\it r\) = 0.75, \(\it p\) < 0.001). AUCs for the custom Stroop task, TMT A and TMT B for discriminating between normal and pathological EpiTrack® scores were acceptable, excellent and outstanding, respectively. Quick point-of-care testing using a pocketcard set is feasible and yields diagnostically valid information.

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Metadaten
Author:Emily BellartzGND, Milena PertzORCiDGND, Johannes JungilligensORCiDGND, Ilka Anna Elisabeth KleffnerGND, Jörg WellmerORCiDGND, Uwe SchlegelGND, Patrizia ThomaORCiDGND, Stoyan PopkirovORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:294-102187
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12060694
Parent Title (English):Brain Sciences
Subtitle (English):a preliminary validation study
Publisher:MDPI
Place of publication:Basel, Schweiz
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2023/09/29
Date of first Publication:2022/05/27
Publishing Institution:Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsbibliothek
Tag:Open Access Fonds
aphasia; epilepsy; executive functions; neglect; neuropsychology; pocketcard; stroke
Volume:12
Issue:6, Article 694
First Page:694-1
Last Page:694-9
Note:
Article Processing Charge funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the Open Access Publication Fund of Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Institutes/Facilities:Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Klinik für Neurologie
Dewey Decimal Classification:Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Medizin, Gesundheit
open_access (DINI-Set):open_access
Licence (English):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY 4.0 - Attribution 4.0 International