Cognitive Assessment via Telephone: A Scoping Review of Instruments
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
Carlew, A. R., Fatima, H., et al. (2020).
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 35(8), 1215-1233.
This systematic review investigates the accuracy and associated psychometric properties of telephone-based cognitive assessment tools for measuring cognition in adults.
BvB Dallas Foundation; O’Donnell Brain Institute Cognition and Memory Center
Through April 2020
Peer-reviewed empirical studies of any design
100
<div>For assessing cognition in adults via telephone, studies investigating the sensitivity and specificity of different telephone-based cognitive assessments (TBCA) for measuring cognition in adults with Alzheimer's disease reported the following accuracy:</div>
<ul>
<li>The Modified Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-M) demonstrates sensitivity ranging from 84% to 100% and specificity from 86% to 100%.</li>
<li>Other TBCA measures demonstrate sensitivity ranging from 77% to 100% and specificity from 77 to 97.5%.</li>
</ul>
<div>For assessing cognition in adults via telephone, studies investigating the sensitivity and specificity of different telephone-based cognitive assessments (TBCA) for measuring cognition in adults with dementia reported the following accuracy:</div>
<ul>
<li>The Modified Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-M) demonstrates sensitivity ranging from 34% to 100% and specificity from 23.5% to 100%.</li>
<li>Other TBCA measures demonstrate sensitivity ranging from 5% to 98% and specificity from 82% to 99%.</li>
</ul>
<div>For assessing cognition in adults via telephone, studies investigating the sensitivity and specificity of different telephone-based cognitive assessments (TBCA) for measuring cognition in adults with mild cognitive impairment reported the following accuracy:</div>
<ul>
<li>The Modified Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-M) demonstrates sensitivity ranging from 29% to 100% and specificity from 23.5% to 91%.</li>
<li>Other TBCA measures demonstrate sensitivity ranging from 23% to 97% and specificity from 51% to 97%.</li>
</ul>
<div>For assessing cognition in adults via telephone, studies investigating the sensitivity and specificity of different telephone-based cognitive assessments (TBCA) for measuring cognition in adults with general cognitive impairment reported the following accuracy:</div>
<ul>
<li>The Modified Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-M) demonstrates sensitivity ranging from 0% to 92% and specificity from 68% to 93%.</li>
<li>Other TBCA measures demonstrate sensitivity ranging from 11% to 93% and specificity from 23% to 100%.</li>
</ul>
<div>For assessing cognition in adults via telephone, thirty-eight studies investigating telephone-based cognitive assessments (TBCA) found a variety of measures that could be appropriate for screening cognitive impairment in different populations. The authors note that not all cognitive domains (e.g., visuospatial, orientation questions, executive functioning, attention) can be easily or accurately assessed via TBCA. "In general, measures that added more robust list-learning/memory tasks seemed to have the most success in enhancing sensitivity/specificity in detection of cognitive impairment in [mild cognitive impairment] MCI/dementia cohorts" (p. 1226). They highlight that conducting assessment via the telephone may be more feasible than videoconferencing technology for some individuals with limited access to equipment or internet. The authors conclude that TBCA is appropriate as a "triage" approach to screen individuals for in-person assessment; however, these tools do not replace gold-standard, face-to-face cognitive evaluation. Further research on the accuracy of these tools is needed.</div>
