Clock-Drawing Test as a Screening Tool for Cognitive Impairment Associated With Fecal Immunochemical Test Collection...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Geriatrics
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Accurate fecal immunochemical test (FIT) sample collection is crucial for colorectal cancer screening.
• Cognitive impairment can affect a patient's ability to correctly perform medical procedures, including stool sample collection.
• The clock-drawing test is a widely used screening tool for cognitive impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between demographic characteristics and clock-drawing test results with errors in FIT sample collection.
• To identify predictors of FIT collection errors to improve patient adherence and test accuracy.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 1,448 participants scheduled for colonoscopy.
• Participants completed questionnaires including the clock-drawing test and used five different FIT kits.
• FIT collection errors were defined as mistakes in recording collection dates or in the collection process itself.

Main Results:

• Female participants, those with an 8th-grade education or less, and individuals with abnormal clock-drawing test scores (using the Mendes-Santos method) showed significantly higher rates of FIT collection errors.
• The adjusted odds ratios for these factors were 1.64, 3.40, and 1.65, respectively.
• Cognitive impairment was identified in 292 patients by the Mendes-Santos method.

Conclusions:

• Demographic factors (female sex, low education) and cognitive status (abnormal clock-drawing test) are associated with increased FIT collection errors.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve FIT collection accuracy in at-risk populations.
• Errors can occur even in individuals with normal clock-drawing test results, suggesting multifactorial causes for FIT collection mistakes.