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Remote Neuropsychological Assessment in Rural American Indians with and without Cognitive Impairment
Hannah E Wadsworth1, Jeanine M Galusha-Glasscock2, Kyle B Womack3
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA hannah.wadsworth@utsouthwestern.edu.
Summary
Neuropsychological tests administered via video teleconference (VTC) are feasible and reliable for rural American Indians. This remote testing method shows high consistency with in-person assessments for cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Telemedicine
- Gerontology
Background:
- Assessing cognitive function in rural populations, particularly American Indians, presents unique challenges.
- Traditional face-to-face neuropsychological testing may be inaccessible due to geographical barriers.
- Video teleconference (VTC) offers a potential solution for remote cognitive assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of administering a standard neuropsychological test battery via VTC.
- To compare VTC administration with traditional face-to-face administration in a sample of rural American Indians.
- To extend findings on remote cognitive testing to the American Indian population.
Main Methods:
- 84 rural American Indians (Choctaw Nation) participated, including those with mild cognitive impairment/dementia and cognitively normal individuals.
- A battery of 9 standard neuropsychological tests was administered.
- Participants underwent both face-to-face and VTC assessments using counterbalanced alternative forms; Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated.
Main Results:
- All ICCs were statistically significant (p < .0001), indicating strong agreement between VTC and face-to-face testing.
- ICCs ranged from 0.65 for Clock Drawing to 0.93 for the Boston Naming Test.
- The mean ICC across all tests was 0.82, demonstrating high overall reliability.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the feasibility and reliability of using VTC for neuropsychological test administration.
- This remote method is effective for assessing cognitive function in rural American Indians.
- Results contribute to the growing evidence base for telemedicine in neuropsychological evaluations.
