Evaluation of Reliability of Traditional and Computerized Neurobehavioral Tests / 대한산업의학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Thls study was conducted to select more reliable neurobehavioral tests that are compatible with the characteristlcs of Korean workers and their health management system. METHODS: To compare the reliability of neurobehavioral tests, test and retest of five computerized and five traditional neurobehavioral tests administered to 85 medical school students and 35 hospital workers. The computerized tests include Simple reaction time, Addition, Symbol digit, Digit span, and Finger tapping speed, while the traditional tests include the trenton visual retention test, Digit symbol, Digit span, Pursuit aiming, and Pegboard. RESULTS: Computerized Addition was found to have the highest test-retest reliability (0.90) of and followed by Finger tapping speed (nondominant hand, 0.89, dominant hand, 0.85), Symbol digit(0.82), and Digit span(0.74). Only two traditional tests, Digit symbol(0.86), and Pursuit aiming(0.72), showed test-retest reliability coefficient greater than 0.70. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the computerized Additions, Symbol digit, Fingel tapping speed, and traditional Digit symbol are more satisfactory for our purposes. These results may allow a reasonable selection of the most appropriate tests for periodical evaluation of central nervous system of workers exposed to neurotoxic substances in Korea.