Exploring How Sociocultural Factors Affect the Experience of Completing Neuropsychological Assessments Within Older...

The field of cultural neuropsychology has grown exponentially over the last three decades. With a limited culturally informed evidence base to guide neuropsychological practice, the acceptability of existing paradigms has been called into question when applied to culturally diverse and educationally disadvantaged groups. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of Greek Australian older adults who underwent a cognitive assessment to better understand potential barriers and facilitators to engagement and to improve neuropsychological assessment outcomes.

Semi-structured interviews were developed to explore cultural attitudes and contextual factors relating to neuropsychological assessment. Interviews were conducted by Greek-speaking neuropsychologists using a sample of 10 healthy elderly Greek Australians following the completion of a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Data were analyzed using a phenomenological design within a critical realist framework.

Analysis revealed the emergence of three broad themes: sociocultural factors, experiences within the broader medical system, and the assessment experience. Engagement with cognitive assessment was influenced by several factors, including rapport building, understanding of the assessment, and use of inappropriate tests. Furthermore, level and quality of education, sex differences, language barriers, acculturation, previous experiences of prejudice, anxiety, and a preference for Greek-speaking clinicians were additional factors reported to affect the client experience and validity of assessment outcomes.

Neuropsychological assessment is, in part, affected by culturally reinforced attitudes. Failing to adjust the relationship between the clinician and client, test environment, style of communication, and the use of culturally inappropriate tests is likely to affect the validity of assessment outcomes.