Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-rvbq7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-12T09:48:48.689Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Assessment of memory function: the relation between daily observation and neuropsychological test performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2010

A. Persoon ,
R. P. C. Kessels ,
L. Joosten-Weyn Banningh ,
J. Verkoelen ,
T. van Achterberg  and
M. G. M. Olde Rikkert
A. Persoon*
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatrics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
R. P. C. Kessels
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
L. Joosten-Weyn Banningh
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
J. Verkoelen
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatrics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
T. van Achterberg
Affiliation:
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Nursing Science Section, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
M. G. M. Olde Rikkert
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatrics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Anke Persoon, Department of Geriatrics – 925, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Phone: +31-24 361 6772; Fax: +31-24-361 7048. Email: A.Persoon@ger.umcn.nl.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to explore the value of a daily observation scale in the assessment of patients' memory function by nurses on a geriatric ward.

Methods: An observational study of 50 geriatric inpatients was carried out. The relationship between the memory items of the Nurses' Behavioral Rating Scale for Geriatric Inpatients (GIP) and four types of neuropsychological memory tests was examined: visual paired-associate learning (Visual Association Test, VAT), word-list learning (Eight Word Test, 8WT from the Amsterdam Dementia Screening, ADS), and the subtests Route Recall and Story Recall from the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT). Correlations with the overall measures assessing level of dementia such as the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR) and the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) were examined as well.

Results: The Pearson's correlation coefficients between GIP and the four memory tests were between 0.45 and 0.71 (p < 0.01). The GIP correlations with the MMSE and CDR were 0.63 and 0.46, respectively (p < 0.01). No significant correlation was found with the GDS-15. Statistically significant differences in GIP memory scores between patients with dementia and non-demented patients were found (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Results indicate that an observation scale of memory function may have value for providing information about the underlying memory impairment. The results of nurses' observations may be used in triage contributing to the diagnostic process by selecting patients requiring further neuropsychological assessment.

Keywords

behavioral rating scalememoryobservation scalevaliditynursing
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , February 2011 , pp. 102 - 106
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bouwens, S. F. et al. (2008). Relationship between measures of dementia severity and observation of daily life functioning as measured with the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 25, 81–87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
de Jonghe, J. F., Kat, M. G. and de Reus, R. (1994). Validity of the Behavior Observation Scale for Intramural Psychogeriatrics: a comparison with the BOP (Evaluation Scale Elderly Patients) and NOSIE-30 in a psychogeriatric assessment clinic for the elderly. Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 25, 110–116.Google Scholar
de Jonghe, J. F., Kat, M. G., Rottier, W. P. and de Reus, R. (1995). The Behavior Observation Scale for Intramural Psychogeriatrics and clinical diagnosis; a comparison with the BOP (Assessment Elderly Patients) and NOSIE-30. Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 26, 24–29.Google ScholarPubMed
de Jonghe, J. F., Calis, P. J. and Boom-Poels, P. G. (1996). Behavioral dimensions in elderly patients: factor structure of the Behavioral Observation Scale for Intramural Psychogeriatrics. Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 27, 159–164.Google ScholarPubMed
Dellasega, C. (1998). Assessment of cognition in the elderly: pieces of a complex puzzle. Nursing Clinics of North America, 33, 395–405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E. and McHugh, P. R. (1975). “Mini-mental state”: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12, 189–198.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Foreman, M. D., Fletcher, K., Mion, L. C. and Trygstad, L. (2003). Assessing cognitive function. In Mezey, M., Fulmer, T., Abraham, I. and Zwicker, D. A. (eds.), Geriatric Protocol for Best Practice (pp. 99–115). New York: Springer Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Hughes, C. P., Berg, L., Danziger, W. L., Coben, L. A. and Martin, R. L. (1982). A new clinical scale for the staging of dementia. Britisch Journal of Psychiatry, 140, 566–572.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Helmes, E., Csapo, K. G. and Short, J. A. (1987). Standardization and validation of the Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects (MOSES). Journal of Gerontology, 42, 395–405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Inouye, S. K., Foreman, M. D., Mion, L. C., Katz, K. H. and CooneyL. M., Jr. L. M., Jr. (2001). Nurses' recognition of delirium and its symptoms: comparison of nurse and researcher ratings. Archives of Internal Medicine, 161, 2467–2473.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Langley, L. K. (2000). Cognitive assessment of older adults. In Kane, R. L. and Kane, R. (eds.), Assessing Older Persons: Measures, Meaning, and Practical Applications (pp. 65–128). New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Lezak, M. D., Howiesen, D. B., Loring, D. W., Hannah, H. J. and Fischer, J. S. (eds.) (2004). Neuropsychological Assessment. Oxford. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Lindeboom, J., Schmand, B., Tulner, L., Walstra, G. and Jonker, C. (2002). Visual association test to detect early dementia of the Alzheimer type. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 73, 126–133.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marson, D. and Hebert, K. R. (2006). Functional assessment. In Attix, D. K. and Welsh, K. A. Bohmer (eds.), Geriatric Neuropsychology: Assessment and Interventions (pp. 158–197). New York: The Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Miller, M. D. et al. (1992). Rating chronic medical illness burden in geropsychiatric practice and research: application of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. Psychiatry Research, 41, 237–248.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morris, J. N. et al. (1994). MDS Cognitive Performance Scale. Journals of Gerontology, 49, M174–M182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Persoon, A., Joosten, L., van de Vrie, W., Olde Rikkert, M. G. M. and van Achterberg, T. (2007). Agreement between geriatric nurses in the assessment of cognitive funtioning of older hospitalized patients. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 55, 1306–1307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schuurmans, M., Shortridge-Baggett, L. M. and Duursma, S. A. (2003). The delirium Observation Screening Scale: a screening instrument for delirium. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 1, 31–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slick, D. J. (2006). Psychometrics in neuropsychological assessment. In Strauss, E., Sherman, E. M. S. and Spreen, O. (eds.), A Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests: Administration, Norms and Commentary (pp. 3–26) Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Spiegel, R. et al. (1991). New behavioral assessment scale for geriatric out- and in-patients: the NOSGER (Nurses' Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients). Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 39, 339–347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van der Pol-Vetten, and Liem, S. D. (1992). Usefulness and validity of the abbreviated Amsterdam Dementia Screening Test (ADS3) in nursing homes. Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 23, 27–30.Google ScholarPubMed
Verstraten, P. F. (1988). 14 Observation scales for psychogeriatric behavior problems. Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 19, 147–151.Google ScholarPubMed
Wahle, M., Häller, S. and Spiegel, R. (1996). Validation of the NOSGER (Nurses' Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients): reliability and validity of a caregiver rating instrument. International Psychogeriatrics, 8, 525–547.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, B. A., Cockburn, J. and Baddeley, A. (1985). The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test. Reading, U.K.: Thames Valley Test Company.Google Scholar
Yesavage, J. A. et al. (1982). Development and validation of a Geriatric Depression Screening scale: a preliminary report. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 17, 37–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar