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Psychometric Evaluation of Self-assessment Persian Version of the Alzheimer Questionnaire (AQ)
Mahsa Roozrokh Arshadi Montazer1, Roohollah Zahediannasab2,3,4, Mohammad Nami2,3,4,5
1Department of Health Information Health Management, School of Management & Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Introduction:
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a primary disorder intensified by aging. Rapid diagnosis of MCI can prevent its progression towards the development of dementia. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the psychometric features of the self-assessment Persian version of the Alzheimer questionnaire (AQ) in the elderly to detect MCI.
Methods:
First, the AQ was translated into the Persian language; then, its content validity was evaluated by the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) method, and face validity was determined by two checklists for expert panel and the elderly. The convergent validity of the self-assessment AQ with the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) was assessed using the Pearson correlation. The test-retest and internal consistency reliability were evaluated using intra-class correlation (ICC) and Kuder-Richardson coefficients, respectively. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off point of self-assessment AQ. Among 148 older people who took part in this study, 93 met our inclusion criteria (aged 60 years old or older, had reading and writing skills, and were able to speak and communicate).
Results:
A translated version of the questionnaire was named "M-check." The developed test showed good content and face validity. Statistically significant correlations were found between M-check and MoCA (r=-0.83, P<0.05). The Kuder-Richardson and ICC coefficients were obtained as 0.84 and 0.92, respectively. Area under the curve presented satisfactory values (Area under curve [AUC]=0.852, sensitivity=0.62, specificity=0.94).
Conclusion:
The M-check can be used as a valid and reliable instrument for assessing cognitive state and screening MCI in older adults.
Highlights:
All questions achieved desired face validity.The convergent validity of Alzheimer Questioner (AQ) was confirmed with high correlation.The AQ is statistically significant with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).The AQ had acceptable stability, repeatability, and reliability.All findings demonstrated that the M-Check had high values in predicting MCI in the early stages.
Plain Language Summary:
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a subset of mental disorders that is an early condition that may lead to dementia. People with MCI are usually prone to forgetfulness in a short time. If MCI is not detected in the early stages, it can progress to dementia or Alzheimer's to higher degrees. On the other hand, cognitive decline and MCI can cause major problems for patients and their families. So it is essential to act out as soon as possible. It is considered that a tool for the early identification of MCI that is self-assessed by individuals, without the presence of an expert and trained person to interpret the results, was not observed in Iran. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the psychometric features of the self-assessment Persian version of the Alzheimer questionnaire (AQ) in the elderly. The results showed that the AQ is a simple one that can be quickly completed by any person at home or by family members of the elderly so that people can refer to the relevant specialist more soon if needed.
Insights
The Persian Alzheimer questionnaire (AQ) is a valid and reliable tool for early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults. This self-assessment tool can help identify MCI, potentially preventing progression to dementia.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a significant aging-related disorder that can progress to dementia.
- Early detection of MCI is crucial for timely intervention and prevention of dementia.
- A validated self-assessment tool for MCI screening in the elderly Persian-speaking population was lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychometric properties of the self-assessment Persian version of the Alzheimer questionnaire (AQ).
- To establish the validity and reliability of the Persian AQ for detecting MCI in the elderly.
Main Methods:
- Translation and cultural adaptation of the Alzheimer questionnaire (AQ) into Persian.
- Assessment of content and face validity using expert panels and the elderly population.
- Evaluation of convergent validity with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) using Pearson correlation.
- Reliability testing including test-retest (ICC) and internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson).
- Determination of the optimal cut-off point using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Main Results:
- The Persian version, named 'M-check', demonstrated good content and face validity.
- Strong significant correlation between M-check and MoCA (r=-0.83, P<0.05), confirming convergent validity.
- High reliability was confirmed with Kuder-Richardson coefficient of 0.84 and ICC of 0.92.
- ROC analysis indicated satisfactory performance with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.852, sensitivity of 0.62, and specificity of 0.94.
Conclusions:
- The M-check is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing cognitive status and screening for MCI in older adults.
- This self-administered questionnaire facilitates early identification of MCI, enabling prompt referral for specialist evaluation.
- The M-check holds significant potential for widespread use in clinical settings and community-based elderly care in Iran.
