Abstract
Aim: The aim of the study was to acquire the experience in the Czech Republic and develop procedures for a remote electronic assessment of cognitive tests Amnesia Light and Brief Assessment (ALBA), Picture Naming and Immediate Recall (PICNIR) and Addenbrook's Cognitive Examination (ACE-III). We explored whether we will get similar results in personal assessments as in the electronic distance assessment according to remote testing protocols.
Methods: We have developed a general protocol as well as protocols for the administration of each test for an electronic examination using a webcam and a microphone between two computer monitors. We examined elderly volunteers with all three tests according to protocol guidelines.
We compared results of these electronic assessments with the results of the same tests obtained during personal assessments of other older adults selected so that the two groups did not differ in age, education and sex. Results: The ALBA test does not require any modification for the electronic assessment.
The PICNIR test needs to be modified from the written to the oral version, to share a set of pictures on the monitor and to shorten picture recall time to thirty seconds. The ACE-III test requires several modifications, sharing of stimulus material, and the presence of another person.
All the results of electronic remote ALBA, PICNIR and ACE III tests in elderly people (N = 23, average age 68 +- 5 years, average length of education 16.5 +- 3 years, 65% of women) did not significantly differ from the results of personal assessments of a sociodemographically similar sample. Conclusion: Guidelines for the electronic remote assessment are available for administration of ALBA, PICNIR and ACE III cognitive tests.
The electronic assessment is comparable to the personal one which might be useful in some situations.