[Reliability assessment of the EUROTEST].

INTRODUCTION

The EUROTEST is a valid and useful instrument for detecting cognitive impairment and dementia. Our aim was to assess the test-retest reliability (TRTR) and the inter-rater reliability (IRR) of this instrument.

METHODS

We assessed the TRTR by means of a cross-sectional repeated measures design in 30 subjects with no cognitive impairment. The IRR was determined through the blind assessment of 10 test administrations by 20 independent observers. In both instances we calculated the intra-class correlation coefficient and we compared those coefficients with the ones of the semantic Verbal Fluency Test (sVFT) obtained with the same samples and procedures.

RESULTS

There were not significant differences concerning the characteristics of the subjects included in this study and those of previous studies on the EUROTEST. The EUROTEST showed a significantly higher TRTR (0.94 [95% CI: 0.87-0.97]) than the sVFT (0.51 [95% CI: 0.17- 0.74]), but there was not significant difference in IRR between the EUROTEST (0.91 [95% CI: 0.82-0.97]) and the sVFT (0.96 [95% CI: 0.91-0.99]).

CONCLUSIONS

The EUROTEST shows high TRTR and IRR; therefore, this instrument is appropriate for the longitudinal assessment of subjects with dementia and their response to treatment.