Polish adaptation of the Mini-Cog

Abstract

Early diagnosis of cognitive disorders, including dementia, is critical in the context of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The diagnostic process for neurodegenerative diseases is usually challenging, and the objectification of symptoms reported by patients and/or their families should always be its first element. Screening tools can be usually used for this purpose, but the most available scales are time-consuming and sometimes problematic in assessing and interpreting the obtained results. Moreover, doctors, who are the first link in the diagnostic process, most often in primary care facilities, usually lack experience in the use and interpretation of the results of common diagnostic tools. Above all, they do not have time for it. Therefore, a fast, effective screening tool that requires no experience seems an optimal solution. Furthermore, it will allow for objectifying the patients’ symptoms and, if necessary, refer them to an appropriate dementia specialist. The Mini-Cog, which takes a maximum of five minutes to complete, offers simple and rapid assessment, and whose algorithm allows to decide how to proceed with the patient, is such a tool. Unfortunately, the scale has not been translated and standardised in Polish conditions. The article discusses the Mini-Cog and describes the course of linguistic and cultural adaptation of this tool.