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Updated: Dec 7, 2025
A Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program Targeting Technology Based Everyday Functional Skills
Published on: February 13, 2020
The Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program: Sensitivity to Global Cognitive Impairment,
Philip D Harvey1, Daniela Bolivar Forero2, Lauren B Ahern2
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (PDH, DBF, LBA, SJC), University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL; Research Service Bruce W. Cater VA Medical Center (PDH), Miami, FL; iFunction, Inc. (PDH, LT, PK, SJC), Miami, FL.
The computer-based functional skills assessment and training (CFSAT) accurately identifies functional impairments in older adults with cognitive decline. This tool shows promise for targeted skills training interventions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Technology
Background:
- Cognitive impairment in older adults often leads to difficulties with everyday technology-related tasks.
- A need exists for sensitive and valid assessments of functional skills in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychometric properties of a novel computer-based functional skills assessment and training (CFSAT) program.
- To determine the CFSAT's sensitivity to impairment, its factor structure, and its correlation with cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional baseline assessment was conducted.
- Participants included noncognitively impaired (n=62) and cognitively impaired (n=55) older adults (aged 60-86).
- The Brief Assessment of Cognition (BAC) measured cognitive performance, while CFSAT subtask completion times served as functional capacity measures.
Main Results:
- The CFSAT and BAC effectively discriminated between cognitively impaired and noncognitively impaired groups.
- All cognitive domains on the BAC significantly correlated with CFSAT subtasks (p < .01).
- Factor analyses indicated separate factors for CFSAT and BAC, with executive functioning and processing speed showing the strongest independent association with CFSAT performance.
Conclusions:
- The CFSAT is sensitive to functional impairments in older adults with cognitive impairment.
- CFSAT scores are related to, but not redundant with, cognitive performance.
- The CFSAT can identify functional deficits for targeted skills training, potentially enhanced by other interventions.
