ABSTRACT
Attentional disturbance following brain damage is usually evaluated by several neuropsychological tests. In a rehabilitation setting, however, the primary concern is not task performance, but rather functional real-world behavior. To address this requirement, a new assessment system for attentional behavior, BAAD (Behavioral Assessment of Attentional Disturbance), has been developed. This assessment is generally completed by the patient's therapist (occupational therapist, OT) during therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BAAD completed by the family at home (BAAD-FM) yields results that are comparable to BAAD completed by an OT during occupational therapy (BAAD-OT). The subjects were 53 patients with brain damage. BAAD consists of six items thought to be associated with attentional behaviors. Each item is rated (0 to 3) based on the frequency with which the problem behaviors appeared during daily living at home and daily sessions of occupational therapy. The intraclass-correlation coefficient of the total score between BAAD-FM and BAAD-OT was 0.89. The mean (SD) values of the total scores were 3.7 (3.7) and 3.7 (3.6), respectively. Similarly, there were no significant differences in any of the item scores between BAAD-FM and BAAD-OT. The coincidence rate between the two BAAD tests on an item-by-item basis was over 64% for all items but one (43%). In conclusion, the total BAAD-FM score seemed comparable to the total BAAD-OT score and valuable for detecting attentional disturbance.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to develop the computerized higher function assessment tools for Korea adults. It also aimed at evaluating the reliability and validity of these tests and providing their normative data. METHODS: Computerized versions of card sorting test, hypothesis formation test, color-word test, and finger tapping test were developed through several steps of preliminary applications and corrections. The test-retest reliability of each test was evaluated by the paired t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient using the data from 27 normal subjects. The validity of each test was evaluated by the Pearsons's correlation coefficient between the computerized test scores and the pre-existing cognitive function tests using the data from 48 normal subjects. The normative data were obtained from the 150 Korean adults, age 20 to 50, whose educational levels were higher than high school graduate. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between the means of the test and retest scores except hypothesis formation test, which showed marked practice effect. High correlations were also observed between the tests and the retest scores(r ranged from 0.543 to 0.905). The computerized higher cortical assessment tests scores were highly correlated with the scores of the pre-existing cognitive function tests, such as Standard Progressive Matrices. The scores of the card sorting test and the color-word test were not influenced by age, sex, and education level. However, the scores of the hypothesis formation were greatly influenced by the education level, and the scores of the finger tapping test were greatly influenced by sex. The normative data and guidelines for interpretation were provided. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically applicable computerized higher cortical function assessment tools with high reliability and validity were developed. The normative data for the Korean adults aged 20 to 50 were obtained and the guidelines for the interpretation were provided.