The relationship between common cognitive screening tests (Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination and Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale) and the Cognitive Functional Independence Measure.

Abstract

To assess whether the Cognitive Functional Independence Measure (Cog-FIM) is correlated with the Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) and Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) and whether there is agreement between the Cog-FIM and these two tests. Functional Independence Measure assessments were undertaken on 98 subacute patients. Forty-eight (48) patients were administered the SMMSE, and 50 were administered the RUDAS. Agreement was examined using the Bland-Altman plot. Correlation was observed between the Cog-FIM and both the SMMSE and the RUDAS. The Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated agreement between the Cog-FIM and RUDAS, but not the Cog-FIM and SMMSE. The limits of agreement between the Cog-FIM and RUDAS were -13 to 13. The Cog-FIM is correlated with the RUDAS, but the agreement is unclear. Despite agreement of the means, the limits of agreement are large, which may suggest a clinically meaningful difference. The study should be repeated with a larger sample size.