Introduction: Distance or remote cognitive assessments, administered via phone or computer platforms, have emerged as possible alternatives to traditional assessments performed during office visits. Distance refers to any nontraditional assessment feature, not only or necessarily location. We conducted a systematic review to examine the psychometric soundness of these approaches. Method: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, AgeLine, and Academic Search Premier for articles published between January 2008 and June 2020. Studies were included if participants were over the age of 50, a structured assessment of cognitive function in older adults was evaluated, the assessment method was deemed distant, and validity and/or reliability data were reported. Assessment distance was defined as having any of the following features: use of an electronic test interface, nonroutine test location (e.g., home), test self-administered, and test unsupervised. Distance was categorized as low, intermediate, or high. Results/Discussion: Twenty-six studies met inclusion criteria. Sample sizes ranged from n = 8 to 8,627, and the mean age ranged from 57 to 83. Assessments included screens, brief or full batteries, and were performed via videoconferencing, phone, smartphone, or tablet/computer. Ten studies reported on low distance, 11 on intermediate distance, and 5 studies for high distance assessments. Invalid performance data were observed with older age and cognitive impairment. Convergent validity data were reported consistently and suggested a decline with increasing distance: r = 0.52–0.80 for low, 0.49–0.75 for intermediate, and 0.41–0.53 for high distance. Diagnostic validity estimates presented a similar pattern. Reliability data were reported too inconsistently to allow evaluation. Conclusion: The validity of cognitive assessments with older adults appears supported at lower but not higher distance. Less is known about the reliability of such assessments. Future research should delineate the person and procedure boundaries for valid and reliable test results.
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

中文翻译：

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距离评估，以检测老年人的认知障碍：心理计量学证据的系统评价。

简介：通过电话或计算机平台进行的远程或远程认知评估已成为在办公室访问期间进行的传统评估的可能替代方法。距离是指任何非传统的评估特征，而不仅是或必然是位置。我们进行了系统的审查，以检查这些方法的心理测量的合理性。方法：我们搜索了PubMed，PsycINFO，AgeLine和Academic Search Premier，搜索了2008年1月至2020年6月之间发表的文章。如果参与者年龄在50岁以上，则对老年人的认知功能进行结构化评估，评估方法为被认为是遥远的，并报告了有效性和/或可靠性数据。评估距离被定义为具有以下任何特征：使用电子测试界面，非常规测试位置（例如家庭），自我管理的测试和无监督的测试。距离分为低，中或高。结果/讨论： 26项研究符合纳入标准。样本大小范围为n= 8到8,627，平均年龄在57到83之间。评估包括屏幕，电池电量不足或充满，并通过视频会议，电话，智能手机或平板电脑/计算机进行。十项研究报告了低距离，11项报告了中距离，5项研究进行了高距离评估。随着年龄的增长和认知障碍，观察到无效的表现数据。一致的有效性数据得到一致报告，并显示随着距离的增加而下降：低距离r = 0.52-0.80，中距离r = 0.49-0.75，高距离r = 0.41-0.53。诊断有效性估计值显示了类似的模式。报告的可靠性数据不一致，无法进行评估。结论：老年人认知评估的有效性似乎在较低但不是较高的距离上得到支持。人们对这种评估的可靠性知之甚少。未来的研究应该划定人员和程序的界限，以获得有效和可靠的测试结果。
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord