Communication-related aspects of prospective memory: an exploratory factor analysis of prospective memory questionnaires.

PURPOSE: Prospective memory (PM) questionnaires are frequently used to evaluate perceptions of PM skills in daily life. This study aimed to systematically investigate communication-specific attributes using pre-existing PM self-rating questionnaires to inform clinicians and researchers about the role of PM in cognitive communicative evaluations. METHODS: PM-related items from three questionnaires (i.e., Prospective Memory Questionnaire, Comprehensive Assessment of Prospective Memory, and Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire) were compiled and embedded in Google Forms and distributed to 70 Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) with expertise in Cognitive Communicative Disorders across India. Participants first identified items related to communication, and were then contacted to rate the communication-related PM items using a Likert scale for their degree of appropriateness. Responses from 40 SLPs were obtained and subjected to item-content validity index (i-CVI) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). RESULTS: Of the 114 PM items, 28 received ratings over 50% for their relevance to communication. Of the 28 items, 21 had an i-CVI score greater than 0.8. After the removal of overlapping content, 14 items were finalized and subjected to EFA, which resulted in four factors: PM failure due to loss of communicative content, PM failure due to loss of communicative intent, PM cost due to ongoing interference, and PM failure linked to the priority of communicative intent. CONCLUSION: This study highlights communication-related aspects of PM that can be used as a framework for SLPs to assess and research PM skills.

Development and validation of a novel Context-Based Prospective Memory Task among neurotypical adults.

PURPOSE: To address the paucity and potential of context-based prospective memory (PM) assessment tasks suitable to Indian ethnicity, the study aimed to develop a novel context-based PM task and determine its psychometric properties among neurotypical adults. METHODS: Rendered images in 2-D were extracted from a 3-D shopping mall, where PM and ongoing tasks were embedded within them to provide participants with a semi-immersive experience. The design and scoring of the novel task were constructed in alignment with the Memory for Intentions Screening Test. Fifty neurotypical adults in and around Mangaluru were recruited. The Memory of Intentions Test (MIST) and novel context-based PM task were administered. RESULTS: The validity of the novel task was established with a Content Validity Index of 0.98. The intraclass correlation for the test-retest reliability of the novel context-based PM task was 0.92 (p<0.001) and the inter-rater reliability was 0.98 (p<0.001). The internal consistency of the six subscales was high (Cronbach's α= 0.86), and the Spearman-Brown coefficient indicated a strong split-half reliability of 0.87. Spearman's correlation showed that the trials exhibited strong connections to the dichotomic characteristics of the subscales to which they belonged. Further, McNemar's test suggested similar profiles of the participants for the MIST and novel task. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that the novel context-based PM task offers good validity and reliability measures, providing valuable insight into the mechanisms of PM, and therefore, could be ideal for inclusion in a battery of cognitive assessments.

Prevalence of Self-Reported Swallowing Difficulties and Swallowing-Related Quality of Life Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in India.

Self-reported swallowing difficulties are highly prevalent but underreported among older adults. The aging population in India is increasing, yet there is a lack of empirical data on self-reported swallowing difficulties in older adults. In the present study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of self-reported swallowing difficulties and assess the swallowing-related quality of life (QOL) among community-dwelling older adults in India. We recruited 361 older adults (60-91 years) from the community. Participants completed the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) to assess self-reported swallowing difficulties and the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) to assess swallowing-related QOL. Participants rated the EAT-10 from 0 for 'no problem' to 4 for 'severe problem'. The DHI rating included 0 for 'never', 2 for 'sometimes', and 4 for 'always'. The total scores of EAT-10 and DHI were summarised using descriptive statistics. Statistically significant differences between pass-fail groups of EAT-10 and DHI were evaluated using an independent t-test and multivariate analysis of variance test, respectively. The overall mean score for EAT-10 was 3.34, and 7.56 for DHI, with higher scores observed among females. 36.6% of older adults self-reported experiencing swallowing difficulties, while 47.4% self-reported having poor swallowing-related QOL at p < 0.05. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.86) was found between EAT-10 and total DHI scores at p < 0.001. The present study sheds light on the widespread yet underreported issue of self-reported swallowing difficulties and the impact on swallowing-related QOL among older adults in India. These findings emphasize the urgent need for early swallowing screening programs among older adults.

Development and validation of a novel Context-Based Prospective Memory Task among neurotypical adults

ABSTRACT Purpose To address the paucity and potential of context-based prospective memory (PM) assessment tasks suitable to Indian ethnicity, the study aimed to develop a novel context-based PM task and determine its psychometric properties among neurotypical adults. Methods Rendered images in 2-D were extracted from a 3-D shopping mall, where PM and ongoing tasks were embedded within them to provide participants with a semi-immersive experience. The design and scoring of the novel task were constructed in alignment with the Memory for Intentions Screening Test. Fifty neurotypical adults in and around Mangaluru were recruited. The Memory of Intentions Test (MIST) and novel context-based PM task were administered. Results The validity of the novel task was established with a Content Validity Index of 0.98. The intraclass correlation for the test-retest reliability of the novel context-based PM task was 0.92 (p<0.001) and the inter-rater reliability was 0.98 (p<0.001). The internal consistency of the six subscales was high (Cronbach's α= 0.86), and the Spearman-Brown coefficient indicated a strong split-half reliability of 0.87. Spearman's correlation showed that the trials exhibited strong connections to the dichotomic characteristics of the subscales to which they belonged. Further, McNemar's test suggested similar profiles of the participants for the MIST and novel task. Conclusion The results of the present study suggest that the novel context-based PM task offers good validity and reliability measures, providing valuable insight into the mechanisms of PM, and therefore, could be ideal for inclusion in a battery of cognitive assessments.

Communication-related aspects of prospective memory: an exploratory factor analysis of prospective memory questionnaires

ABSTRACT Purpose Prospective memory (PM) questionnaires are frequently used to evaluate perceptions of PM skills in daily life. This study aimed to systematically investigate communication-specific attributes using pre-existing PM self-rating questionnaires to inform clinicians and researchers about the role of PM in cognitive communicative evaluations. Methods PM-related items from three questionnaires (i.e., Prospective Memory Questionnaire, Comprehensive Assessment of Prospective Memory, and Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire) were compiled and embedded in Google Forms and distributed to 70 Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) with expertise in Cognitive Communicative Disorders across India. Participants first identified items related to communication, and were then contacted to rate the communication-related PM items using a Likert scale for their degree of appropriateness. Responses from 40 SLPs were obtained and subjected to item-content validity index (i-CVI) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Results Of the 114 PM items, 28 received ratings over 50% for their relevance to communication. Of the 28 items, 21 had an i-CVI score greater than 0.8. After the removal of overlapping content, 14 items were finalized and subjected to EFA, which resulted in four factors: PM failure due to loss of communicative content, PM failure due to loss of communicative intent, PM cost due to ongoing interference, and PM failure linked to the priority of communicative intent. Conclusion This study highlights communication-related aspects of PM that can be used as a framework for SLPs to assess and research PM skills.

A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists' Applications of Motor Learning Principles in Dysphagia Therapy in Adults in India.

PURPOSE: In the study, we investigated whether speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in India use practice and feedback conditions of motor learning principles (MLPs), including biofeedback, in dysphagia therapy in adults using a problem-solution approach. METHOD: Based on a literature review and clinical experience, we developed and validated a hypothetical case involving an adult with dysphagia (representing the problem) and a purpose-built 22-item questionnaire (representing the solution). We distributed the questionnaire electronically by sending an e-mail to 2,069 SLPs and also published a flyer on the dysphagia special interest group of India. RESULTS: A total of 107 SLPs anonymously submitted their responses. In practice conditions, most of the SLPs reported following massed over distributed, small over large, blocked over random, whole over part, variable over constant, and internal over external practice strategies. In feedback conditions, most of the participants reported using knowledge of results over performance, high over low, immediate over delayed, and self over therapist feedback strategies. Lastly, more than two thirds of SLPs did not use biofeedback devices for dysphagia therapy. CONCLUSION: The findings from our study indicate that SLPs in India do not adhere uniformly to the recommended practices of MLPs for dysphagia therapy in adults.