Test-retest reliability and criterion-related validity of Shih-Hsu test of attention between people with and without...

The "Shih-Hsu Test of Attention" (SHTA) is an iPad-based attention assessment tool developed in recent years by occupational therapists and has acceptable criterion-related validity and high test-retest reliability in preliminary application. This research project explores the criterion-related validity and test-retest reliability of SHTA between people with and without schizophrenia.

The participants were 76 adults with schizophrenia aged 20-64 years, and 66 adults without diagnosed mental illness aged 20-64 years were recruited in this study on a voluntary basis. Each participant was assessed twice. The participants completed both the SHTA and Chu's Attention Test (CAT) in the first test and the SHTA after 3 weeks.

Analytical results indicate that the SHTA has satisfactory test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.67) and criterion-related validity (γ = 0.29, p < 0.05*) for adults with schizophrenia and has high test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.90) and criterion-related validity (γ = 0.25, p < 0.05*) for adults without diagnosed mental illness. The MDC% value for the subjects without diagnosed mental illness was 12.1%, indicating acceptable random measurement error.

Our preliminary findings show that the iPad-based attention assessment tool, SHTA, has satisfactory criterion-related validity and test-retest reliability, supporting the future application of SHTA as an attention assessment tool.