Measuring executive function in control subjects and TBI patients with question completion time (QCT)

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Questionnaire completion is a complex cognitive task.
• Computerized questionnaires are increasingly used in clinical settings.
• Question completion time (QCT) is an understudied metric.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze QCT in healthy individuals and patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• To identify factors influencing QCT.
• To evaluate QCT as a clinical measure of cognitive function.

Main Methods:

• 172 control subjects and 31 TBI patients completed the PTSD Checklist (PCL) and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ).
• Self-paced QCTs were recorded for each question.
• QCTs were analyzed in relation to question length, age, sex, education, and computer experience.

Main Results:

• Strong correlation between QCTs on PCL and CFQ in controls (r=0.82).
• QCT correlated with question word count, age, sex, education, and computer experience.
• Severe TBI patients showed significantly delayed QCTs; mild TBI patients did not.

Conclusions:

• QCT is influenced by reading speed, age, and demographics.
• QCT z-scores, adjusted for covariates, show strong inter-test reliability.
• QCT is a sensitive and reliable clinical measure for processing speed and executive function, particularly in TBI assessment.