Use Of Normative Data Research Articles

Dual-language testing improves bilinguals’ verbal scores

Objective: Research demonstrates that college educated, English language dominant bilinguals underperform relative to English speaking monolinguals on tests of verbal ability. We investigated whether accepting responses in their two languages would reveal improved performance in bilinguals, and whether such improvement would be of sufficient magnitude to demonstrate the same performance level as monolinguals. Method: Participants were college students attending the same university. Spanish-English bilinguals were compared to English speaking monolinguals on the Bilingual Verbal Ability Tests (BVAT), which include Picture Vocabulary, Oral Vocabulary, and Verbal Analogies. Results: When given the opportunity to respond in Spanish to items failed in English, bilinguals obtained significantly higher scores on all three subtests, and their performance matched that of monolinguals on Oral Vocabulary and Verbal Analogies. Conclusion: An “either-language” scoring approach may enable optimal measurement of verbal abilities in bilinguals. We provide normative data for use in applying the either-language scoring approach on subtests of the BVAT. We discuss the findings in the context of clinical assessment.

The how and why of handgrip strength assessment

Introduction: Occupational therapists and physiotherapists routinely assess Hand grip Strength (HGS) to evaluate hand function. This study explored the experiences of clinicians who regularly assess and evaluate HGS including the testing protocol utilised, evaluation methods and the influence of various biological and functional factors. Method: This exploratory survey ( n = 49) was distributed online to members of the Australian Hand Therapy Association. The questionnaire asked recipients to identify HGS testing protocols, evaluation methods, use of normative data, reasons for assessment and the influence of biological and functional factors on HGS. Demographic data was also collected. Results: Sixty-four percent of respondents were occupational therapists and 59% had over 10 years’ experience assessing HGS. The standardised American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) testing protocol was consistently adopted by only 67% of respondents . Variations in contraction time, scoring and evaluation methods were identified. Gender, age, employment and lifestyle were considered the functional and biological factors which influence HGS. Conclusion: This study details how and why occupational therapists and physiotherapists in Australia assess and evaluate HGS. Use of the ASHT testing protocol is not universal. Clinicians rely on the reason for assessment, clinical experience and practice context to determine how they assess and evaluate HGS.

Developing Culturally Competent Foreign Language Neuropsychological Assessments: Portuguese-Speaking Brazilians Living in the United States.

As the third largest immigrant population in Houston, Texas, Brazilians represent a large bloc of the community in need of culturally and linguistically informed healthcare. In particular, the number of older adults within this population is rapidly growing, emphasizing the increased need to develop socially responsible neuropsychological assessment practices that can meet the needs of this demographic. Additionally, early symptoms of cognitive decline in Brazilian older adults can be culturally perceived as normal aging and may be masked by cultural and lifestyle practices (i.e., scaffolding by family members) that result in lack of appreciation for cognitive and functional decrements. With increased knowledge and awareness of Brazilian culture and customs, we can better understand and assess brain-behavior relationships, provide tailored assessment services, and determine the clinical implications for this population. Test instruments in Portuguese were identified through systematic literature searches, and in consultation with clinicians serving the Portuguese community in the United States, and cultural brokers involved in Brazilian-based neuropsychology. A multidomain neuropsychological battery with accompanying normative data for use with adults from this community is presented. A case illustration is utilized to highlight limitations and strengths of the proposed battery, which includes core and supplemental measures. Neuropsychologists are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the proposed protocol, understand the psychometric limitations of the available tools, and make an earnest attempt toward providing socially responsible neuropsychological care via the appropriate use of culturally and linguistically tailored instruments and clinical practices.

Oculomotor Findings in Videonystagmography across the Lifespan.

When performing oculomotor testing during standard videonystagmography (VNG), the vestibular system is not actively stimulated. Therefore, responses are generated from the cerebellum, brainstem, and oculomotor tract. Many patients seen for vestibular testing fall outside of the standard age norms, making it difficult to determine whether an abnormal finding is due to age or oculomotor dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate the effect of age on a standard clinical VNG oculomotor test battery consisting of saccades, smooth pursuit, and optokinetic (OPK) testing. This is a cross-sectional, between-group prospective study comparing oculomotor tests between age groups. Twenty-one older adults between the ages of 60 and 90 years with no history of central or peripheral vestibular dysfunction were included in the study. Previously collected data from 29 children aged 4 to 6 years and 33 adults aged 20 to 60 years were also included. Participants completed oculomotor testing using infrared goggles consisting of saccades, smooth pursuit, and OPK. Statistical analyses were completed using multivariate analysis of variance and analysis of variance and follow-up analysis when indicated. Significant group differences were noted for saccade latency and speed, smooth pursuit gain, and OPK gain and speed. Children and older adults demonstrated longer saccade latencies compared with the controls, and older adults exhibited slower saccade speed than the controls and children. These results also indicated that smooth pursuit gain was reduced for children and older adults compared with controls, and gain decreased across all groups as frequency increased. Analyses of OPK results indicated older adults had reduced gain and speed compared with the children and control group. The findings of prolonged saccade latencies and reduced smooth pursuit gain in both children and older adults suggest possible cerebellar rather than attentional effects. However, other findings such as reduced saccade speed and reduced OPK gain were noted only in the older adults, which suggests oculomotor degeneration and/or insufficient coverage of the visual field during testing, respectively. These results also indicate the importance of age-specific normative data for use in clinical oculomotor testing.

Health-related quality of life in Welsh adults: psychometric properties of the SF-36v2 and normative data

ObjectivesThe use of normative data has become well-accepted and a common strategy to interpret individual's health outcome scores, which can help in making decisions. The objectives of this study were to obtain population normative data for the domains and component summaries of the 36-item SF-36® Health Survey (SF-36), and to evaluate its reliability and construct validity. MethodsThis study was conducted using population-based data from the Welsh Health Survey (WHS; 2011–2015). This study used version 2 of the SF-36 (SF-36v2® Health Survey). The descriptive statistics and normative data for the eight domains and two summaries, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS), were calculated. Reliability assessment used internal consistency methods and construct validity assessment used known group comparisons and item–scale correlations. Study design and sampleWe performed a secondary analyses of data from the Welsh Health Survey (WHS). ResultsThis study included 74,578 participants aged 16 years or older (53.6% were women). Participants aged 16–24 years scored higher on SF-36 scale than older groups on all domains. The SF-36 profiles by age group demonstrated lower scores for older age groups, with the most pronounced differences shown on the physical-related scales. Across the age groups, men had higher PCS and MCS scores than women. All SF-36 domains and PCS and MCS achieved a good to excellent internal consistency reliability exceeding 0.7. The scales demonstrated construct validity by showing associations with a range of factors known to be related to health. ConclusionsThis study provides SF-36 normative data for Wales based on a representative data and confirms the construct validity and reliability of the SF-36.

Blood Pressure Classification Status in Children With CKD Following Adoption of the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics Guideline

Accurate detection of hypertension is crucial for clinical management of pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD). The 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guideline for childhood hypertension included new normative blood pressure (BP) values and revised definitions of BP categories. In this study, we examined the effect of applying the AAP guideline's normative data and definitions to the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) cohort compared with use of normative data and definitions from the 2004 Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. Observational cohort study. Children and adolescents in the CKiD cohort. Clinic BP measurements. BP percentiles and hypertension stages calculated using the 2017 AAP guideline and the Fourth Report from2004. Agreement analysis compared the estimated percentile and prevalence of high BP based on the 2017 guideline and 2004 report to clinic and combined ambulatory BP readings. The proportion of children classified as having normal clinic BP was similar using the 2017 and 2004 systems, but the use of the 2017 normative data classified more participants as having stages 1-2 hypertension (22% vs 11%), with marginal reproducibility (κ=0.569 [95% CI, 0.538-0.599]). Those identified as having stage 2 hypertension by the 2017 guideline had higher levels of proteinuria compared with those identified using the 2004 report. Comparing use of the 2017 guideline and the 2004 report in terms of ambulatory BP monitoring categories, there were substantially more participants with white coat (3.5% vs 1.5%) and ambulatory (15.5% vs 7.9%) hypertension, but the proportion with masked hypertension was lower (40.2% vs 47.8%, respectively), and the percentage of participants who were normotensive was similar (40.9% vs 42.9%, respectively). Overall, there was good reproducibility (κ=0.799 [95% CI, 0.778-0.819]) of classification by ambulatory BP monitoring. Relationship with long-term progression and target organ damage was not assessed. A greater percentage of children with CKD were identified as having hypertension based on both clinic and ambulatory BP when using the 2017 AAP guideline versus the Fourth Report from 2004, and the 2017 guideline better discriminated those with higher levels of proteinuria. The substantial differences in the classification of hypertension when using the 2017 guideline should inform clinical care.

Validation and Normative Data on the Verbal Fluency Test in a Peruvian Population Ranging from Pediatric to Elderly Individuals.

In neuropsychological evaluation, verbal fluency is a crucial measure of cognitive function, but this measure requires standardized and normative data for use. The present study aimed to obtain validation and normative data for the verbal fluency task in the Peruvian population, with participants ranging from 6 to 94 years and varying in age, educational level, and sex. We recruited 2602 healthy individuals and used linear regression analysis to determine the effect of age, sex, and educational level. We also evaluated internal consistency between categories and phonological tasks with Cronbach's alpha and Pearson's correlation analysis and calculated test-retest reliability after three months. We found significant effects of age, educational level, and sex on phonological and semantic fluency. Participants with more than 12 years of education had the highest scores overall. Regarding age, middle-aged participants (between 31 and 40 years old) had the highest scores; scores gradually decreased outside of this age range. Regarding sex, men performed better than women. These results will increase the ability of clinicians to precisely determine the degree to which verbal fluency is affected in patients of different ages and educational levels.

Psychometric properties and normative data of the Brazilian version of UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale

• UPPS-P five-factor model shows excellent good-of-fitness through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). • The five-factor have good reliability according to McDonald's coefficient in the Brazilian sample. • Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA) shows invariance between gender of participants. • Using the continuous norms approach we present normative data for use in a clinical context. The aime was to examine the factor structure, reliability and to obtain preliminary parameters of the Brazilian adaptation of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, a widely self-report measure used to assess impulsive behavior, in research and clinical setting. The scale is composed of 59 items assessing five factors of impulsivity: (1) positive urgency, (2) negative urgency, (3) lack of premeditation; (4) lack of perseverance; (5) sensation seeking. In the present study 718 participants (504 women and 214 men), with mean age 38.5 (SD = 12.4) who were recruited online fulfilled the UPPS-P scale. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) presented appropriate goodness of fit for the five-factor model, and a Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA) revealed evidence of invariance of its psychometric parameters as a function of gender. Our results showed that the Brazilian Portuguese version of UPPS-P presents good psychometric properties and the same five-factor structure of the original version of UPPS-P.

Individual Baseline Balance Assessments in a Large Sample of Incoming NCAA Division I Athletes Using a Force Plate System

BACKGROUNDIndividualized baseline testing is resource and time intensive. The use of normative data to approximate changes after a suspected concussion is thus an appealing alternative. Yet, few peer-reviewed, large-sample studies are available from which to develop accurate normative averages of balance using force-plate technology.PURPOSEThis study sought to validate a normative dataset from the force-plate manufacturer and examine the magnitude and nature of sample variability.STUDY DESIGNCross-sectional.METHODSBaseline balance and self-reported sex, sport, and concussion history were assessed in 533 prospective collegiate athletes (45% female) during pre-participation physical examinations. Balance was measured using four stances from the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance and quantified as Sway Index Scores with the Biodex Biosway Portable Balance System. Group averages are contrasted to data from the force-plate manufacturer. Individual variability around these averages was visualized and analyzed by sex and sport.RESULTSMale student athletes showed significantly more sway in the eyes open, soft stance condition than female athletes. These differences were maintained when concussion history was included as a covariate. Athletes, particularly male athletes, in the high versus low contact sport group showed significantly more sway in the eyes open, soft surface and the eyes closed, hard and soft surface stances.CONCLUSIONThere was substantial individual variability that was partially explained by sex differences and sport differences. The development of normative averages for sway may benefit from consideration of sex and sport. Further studies should characterize other factors that influence baseline balance in collegiate athletes.LEVEL OF EVIDENCE2b

Performance of Regression-Based Norms for Cognitive Functioning of Persons With Multiple Sclerosis in an Independent Sample.

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS). Interpretation of neuropsychological tests requires the use of normative data. Traditionally, normative data have been reported for discrete categories such as age. More recently continuous norms have been developed using multivariable regression equations that account for multiple demographic factors. Regression-based norms have been developed for use in the Canadian population for tests included in the MACFIMS and BICAMS test batteries. Establishing the generalizability of these norms is essential for application in clinical and research settings.Objectives: We aimed to (i) test the performance of previously published Canadian regression-based norms in an independently collected sample of Canadian healthy controls; (ii) compare the ability of Canadian and non-Canadian regression-based norms to discriminate between healthy controls and persons with MS; and (iii) develop regression-based norms for several cognitive tests drawn from batteries commonly used in MS that incorporated race/ethnicity in addition to age, education, and sex.Methods: We included 93 adults with MS and 96 healthy adults in this study, with a replication sample of 104 (MS) and 39 (healthy adults). Participants reported their sociodemographic characteristics, and each was administered the oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II), and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R). From the healthy control data, we developed regression-based norms incorporating race, age, education and sex. We then applied existing discrete norms and regression-based norms for the cognitive tests to the healthy controls, and generated z-scores which were compared using Spearman rank and concordance coefficients. We also used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to compare the ability of each set of norms to discriminate between participants with and without MS. Within the MS samples we compared the ability of each set of norms to discriminate between differing levels of disability and employment status using relative efficiency.Results: When we applied the published regression norms to our healthy sample, impairment classification rates often differed substantially from expectations (7%), even when the norms were derived from a Canadian (Ontario) population. Most, but not all of the Spearman correlations between z-scores based on different existing published norms for the same cognitive test exceeded 0.90. However, concordance coefficients were often lower. All of the norms for the SDMT reliably discriminated between the MS and healthy control groups. In contrast, none of the norms for the CVLT-II or BVMT-R discriminated between the MS and healthy control groups. Within the MS population, the norms varied in their ability to discriminate between disability levels or employment status; locally developed norms for the SDMT and CVLT-II had the highest relative efficiency.Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the value of local norms when interpreting the results of cognitive tests and demonstrate the need to consider and assess the performance of regression-based norms developed in other populations when applying them to local populations, even when they are from the same country. Our findings also strongly suggest that the development of regression-based norms should involve larger, more diverse samples to ensure broad generalizability.

The Ability of Baseline and Normative Neurocognitive Testing to Identify Cognitive Impairments Following Concussion: A Critically Appraised Topic

Focused Clinical Question: In a high school, college, and professional athletic population, does individualized baseline tests increase the diagnostic accuracy (e.g., sensitivity and specificity) of identifying cognitive impairments when utilizing neurocognitive testing compared to normative data? Clinical Bottom Line: There was insufficient evidence to definitively suggest the use of individualized baseline data over the use of normative data during a postinjury assessment.

Beck depression inventory, second edition, Czech version: demographic correlates, factor structure and comparison with foreign data

Objective We aimed to examine whether demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age and education) correlate with total scores of the Czech version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), understand the factorial structure of this scale, compare our results with findings of studies conducted in other countries and provide preliminary normative data for use in clinical practice. Methods Data of 450 participants were analysed using correlation analysis, non-parametric tests and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results Women, and participants with lower education, tended to score higher than men, and participants with higher education. There was no significant relationship between age and total scores. CFA confirmed two factors: cognitive-affective and somatic. Czech participants scored lower than participants in other studies. Preliminary normative data are presented in the form of percentile values for the whole sample and stratified according to gender and education level. Conclusions We recommend the usage of the BDI-II total score while taking into account also the cognitive-affective and somatic factor subscores. The comparison of our results with other foreign findings shows the need for the development of locally specific normative values for self-reported depression scales. KEY POINTS Women scored higher in the BDI-II than men. Participants with lower education scored higher in the BDI-II than participants with higher education. CFA confirmed two factors: cognitive-affective and somatic. Preliminary normative data for the Czech version of the BDI-II are stratified according to gender and education.

Assessing Autism Spectrum Disorder in Intellectually Able Adults with the Personality Assessment Inventory: Normative Data and a Novel Supplemental Indicator.

Differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among intellectually-able adults often presents a clinical challenge, particularly when individuals present in crisis without diagnostic history. The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) is a multiscale personality and psychopathology instrument utilized across clinical settings, but to date there are no published normative data for use of the PAI with adults with ASD. This study provides normative PAI data for adults diagnosed with ASD, with effect size comparisons to the PAI clinical standardization sample and an inpatient sample. Additionally, a discriminant function was developed and cross-validated for identification of ASD-like symptomatology in a clinical population, which demonstrates promise as a screening tool to aid in the identification of individuals in need of specialized ASD assessment.

Critical speed and finite distance capacity: norms for athletic and non-athletic groups.

Two parameters in particular span both health and performance; critical speed (CS) and finite distance capacity (D'). The purpose of the present study was to: (1) classify performance norms, (2) distinguish athletic from non-athletic individuals using the 3-min all-out test (3MT) for running, and (3) introduce a deterministic model highlighting the relationship between variables of the 3MT. Athletic (n = 43) and non-athletic (n = 25) individuals participated in the study. All participants completed a treadmill graded exercise test (GXT) with verification bout and a 3MT on an outdoor sprinting track. Meaningful differences between non-athletic and athletic individuals (denoted by mean difference scores, p value and Cohen's d with 95% confidence intervals) were evident for CS (- 0.74ms-1, p < 0.001, d = - 1.41 [1.97, - 0.87]), exponential growth time constant ([Formula: see text]; 2.75s, p < 0.001, d = - 1.29 [- 1.45, - 0.42]), time to maximal speed ([Formula: see text]; - 2.80s, p < 0.001, d = - 0.98 [- 1.51, - 0.47]), maximal speed ([Formula: see text]; - 1.36ms-1, p < 0.001, d = - 1.56 [- 2.13, - 1.01]), gas exchange threshold (GET; - 5.62mlkg-1min-1, p < 0.001, d = - 0.97 [- 1.50, - 0.45]), distance covered in the first minute (1st min; - 81.69m, p < 0.001, d = - 1.91 [- 2.52, - 1.33]), distance covered in the second minute (2nd min; - 52.02m, p < 0.001, d = - 1.71 [- 2.30, - 1.15]) and maximal distance (- 153.78m, p < 0.001, d = - 1.27 [- 1.82, - 0.74]). The correlation coefficient between key physiological and performance variables are shown in the form of a deterministic model created from the data derived from the 3MT. Coaches and clinicians may benefit from the use of normative data to potentially identify exceptional or irregular occurrences in 3MT performances.

Impact of Factors that Affect Reading Skill Level on King-Devick Baseline Performance Time.

The King-Devick (K-D) test is often used as part of a multimodal assessment to screen for sport-related concussion. However, the test involves reading numbers, and little is known about variation in baseline performance on the K-D by reading skill level. We conducted a cross-sectional study analyzing data from the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium to assess differences in baseline performance on the K-D associated with factors that impact reading skill level (learning disorder [LD] and primary home language other than English [PHLOTE]), while controlling for covariates (gender, type of sport, attentional issues, history of concussion and modality of administration). We had a sample of 2311 student-athletes (47% female), and multivariate regression indicated an average K-D performance time of 40.4s. Presence of LD was associated with a 3.3s slower K-D time (95% CI 1.9-4.7, p < 0.001), and PHLOTE was associated with a 2.6s slower K-D time (95% CI 1.2-4.0, p < 0.001), after controlling for other covariates. These results suggest caution in the use of normative data with the K-D. Future studies should explore the impact of factors associated with reading skill level on sensitivity of the K-D in detecting concussion.

Clinical Outcome Assessments: Use of Normative Data in a Pediatric Rare Disease

Pediatric rare diseases present unique challenges in clinical trial design and in selection of clinical outcome assessments (COAs) used to support claims in medical product labeling. COAs that discriminate level of function relative to a normative sample are particularly important in the pediatric rare disease setting because the literature is often void of natural history data. Pediatric rare disease clinical trials will often include a wide age distribution. Gross and fine motor skills, communication, cognition, and independence in activities of daily living vary by age, and it may be difficult to distinguish between treatment effect and change due to developmental maturation. Asfotase alfa was granted breakthrough therapy designation and subsequently approved for the treatment of hypophosphatasia (HPP; a genetic metabolic musculoskeletal disorder) and is used in this discussion to illustrate COA selection in a pediatric rare disease. Multiple COAs with normative data in HPP clinical trials for asfotase alfa are presented. The assessment instruments included the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire, the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument, handheld dynamometry, the 6-minute walk test, and the Modified Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment-Gait scale. Multiple end points were required to adequately capture the impact of asfotase alfa treatment on the multiple systems affected in HPP. These data illustrate the importance of using multiple COAs that provide normative data and to use COAs early in the drug development process for rare pediatric disease.

Reply: Breast Cancer and Reconstruction: Normative Data for Interpreting the BREAST-Q.

Sir: We would like to thank Payne et al. for their comments on our recent articles.1–3 We agree that the normative values our studies generated for the BREAST-Q will serve as a valuable tool for ongoing and future research. We would also like to thank the authors for comparing all three recent studies, and looking for similarities and differences among the data. A notable difference that they commented on is the difference in scores for the Physical Well-being domain across the three different preoperative BREAST-Q modules. Each BREAST-Q module, Reconstruction, Augmentation, and Reduction, is an independent patient-reported outcome instrument. As such, each was developed using qualitative interview data from separate disease-specific patient populations.4,5 Although there are similarities in structure, such as the concepts of interest (e.g., Satisfaction with Breasts, Psychosocial Well-being), the specific questions constituting each scale in the various modules are different (Table 1).6 The questions in the Physical Well-being module of the Reconstruction module are specific to physical symptoms experienced preoperatively and postoperatively by breast cancer patients undergoing reconstruction. Similarly, the questions in the Physical Well-being module of the Reduction module are specific to physical symptoms experienced preoperatively and postoperatively by patients undergoing breast reduction. Therefore, the individuals in the different studies were answering different questions to generate the respective BREAST-Q scores, limiting the ability to compare data across studies.Table 1.: Questions from Preoperative BREAST-Q Modules: Physical Well-being ChestThe exception to this is that the Mastectomy, Breast Conserving Therapy, and Reconstruction preoperative scales are identical, as preoperatively this is one patient population. These modules differ only postoperatively to reflect the different unique postoperative concepts of interest to each surgical subgroup. Therefore, the Reconstruction normative data generated with the common preoperative breast cancer scales are applicable to all of the BREAST-Q breast cancer surgical subgroups. We would also like to thank the authors for bringing up the primary limitation of these studies: the demographics of the normative data cohorts. We agree that additional normative data generated from a more diverse population would further enrich our understanding of the BREAST-Q, and improve the use of normative data in future analyses. DISCLOSURE Funding for the study was provided from a discretionary account of Dr. Kerrigan’s held by The Dartmouth Institute. The BREAST-Q is owned by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Pusic and Dr. Klassen are co-developers. They receive a portion of licensing fees when the BREAST-Q is used in industry sponsored clinical trials. Dr. Pusic received support through the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA008748. Drs. Mundy, Homa, and Kerrigan have no commercial associations or financial disclosures to report. Lily R. Mundy, M.D.Division of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryDuke UniversityDurham, N.C. Karen Homa, Ph.D.Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical CenterLebanon, N.H. Anne F. Klassen, D.Phil.McMaster UniversityHamilton, Ontario, Canada Andrea L. Pusic, M.D.Plastic and Reconstructive ServiceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew York, N.Y. Carolyn L. Kerrigan, M.D., M.H.C.D.S.Division of Plastic SurgeryDartmouth Hitchcock Medical CenterLebanon, N.H.

Baremos del test de aptitudes mentales primarias para universitarios hondureños

La baremación de los test psicométricos es muy importante para la justa toma de decisiones. En este sentido, la OMS (2011) plantea que para la medición de los atributos intelectuales las pruebas ofrecen una guía acerca de la capacidad de la persona, pero solo se deben usar si los tests han sido tipificados con la población en la que se están aplicando. Por su parte, la American Psychological Association (APA) (1994) citado por Comisión Internacional de Test (2014), plantea la obligación de respetar los criterios de construcción de los test y todo lo relativo a su aplicación, calificación e interpretación, de tal manera que los criterios normativos son poco convenientes cuando se usan para explicar los resultados obtenidos en contextos y poblaciones diferentes a los de su creación. En consecuencia, el propósito del presente estudio fue elaborar los baremos del test de aptitudes mentales primarias (PMA) para estudiantes universitarios hondureños. La muestra se conformó con 2,588 alumnos; distribuidos por sexo en 63.3 % mujeres y 36.7 % hombres. La investigación se realizó con los datos recolectados durante el tercer periodo académico de 2014 y primero y segundo periodo académico de 2015, en la ciudad universitaria de Tegucigalpa, UNAH-Valle de Sula, CURLA y CURLP. Se calcularon estadísticas de tendencia central y dispersión para cada una de las escalas del PMA; posteriormente, se transformaron los puntajes brutos a datos percentiles, un baremo de la muestra general y dos que corresponden a los baremos según sexo. En los estadísticos calculados se observaron diferencias por sexo, por modalidad de educación media, por centro regional y por edad de los participantes, por lo que se compararon las puntuaciones a través de la prueba T de student y análisis de varianza. Para comparar las puntuaciones de los percentiles del baremo español y del construido en este estudio, se tomó una submuestra, de 1987, con sujetos de ambos sexos, se calculó el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson que se obtuvo de diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las cinco subpruebas del PMA.Revista Ciencia y Tecnología No.19, diciembre 2016, p.198-227

Variation In King-Devick Performance Time By Primary Language And History Of A Learning Disorder

The King Devick (K-D) is a brief screening test for sport-related concussion (SRC) that involves rapid number naming and assesses reaction time, visual-motor function and reading skill. This test has been used to screen athletes for potential SRC by comparing performance on this test with baseline performance. Some authors have recently begun to explore normative data for this test, but little is known about variation in baseline performance time on this test, or how that might affect its utility for SRC detection. PURPOSE: To examine variation in baseline performance time on the K-D test by demographics and medical history. METHODS: We analyzed data from an ongoing prospective cohort study of varsity collegiate athletes sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Department of Defense from 2014-2016. We analyzed first time administration of the K-D only, examining differences in means with 95%CI by demographics and medical history Student’s T-test. RESULTS: We report on first-time administration data from 2331 athletes (20.1 +/-3.4 yrs) at five universities. Performance time did not differ by age. Athletes whose primary language was not English had significantly slower baseline times (44.7 s., 95% CI: 43.0-46.3) than primary English speakers (41.2 s., 95% CI: 40.9-41.5), as did those with history of a learning disorder (45.7 s., 95% CI: 43.7-47.6) compared to those without a learning disorder (41.1 s., 95% CI: 40.8-41.4). Athletes in collision sports had significantly faster performance time (40.7 s., 95% CI: 40.3-41.1) compared to those in non-collision sports (42.4 s., 41.9-42.9). History of prior concussion and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were not significantly associated with performance time. CONCLUSION: Performance time on the K-D is significantly slower in athletes who have a primary language other than English and those with a history of a learning disorder. These results suggest caution in the use of normative data with this test given significant individual variation. Future studies should explore whether sensitivity of this test for detecting brain injury is affected by these characteristics.

M49. “Norming” Psychosis Spectrum Symptom Endorsements: Age, Sex, and Race Standard Scores for a Brief Screening Tool in Youth

Abstract To facilitate early identification and intervention, increasing attention has focused on screening young people for early sub-threshold psychosis symptoms. Several promising self-report tools employ clinically derived cut-offs or criteria show reasonable predictive validity for persistence or worsening of psychosis symptoms. However, utility for individualized screening in the community is limited by evidence that item responses and total scores are influenced by demographic characteristics, particularly in younger children and adolescents who tend to endorse more symptoms than older youths. To inform interpretation of individual responses in research, clinical and community settings, we aimed to develop age, sex and race normative references for a widely used psychosis risk screening measure. Community youths ( = 7053) between the ages of 11–21 participating in the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (Calkins et al. 2014, 2015) were administered a computerized version of the 12-item PRIME-Screen-Revised (PS-R, Kobayashi et al., 2008) to assess sub-psychotic symptoms (Miller et al. 2004). Items were self-rated on a 7-point scale ranging from 0 (Definitely Disagree) to 6 (Definitely Agree). We first evaluated age, sex and race differences in total scores and individual item responses. We next calculated z-scores based on means and SDs within each age year (11 to 21) for the total sample, males, females, European-American and non-European American groups. Finally, standard () score tables were generated for each reference group, where = 50 + 10(z). PS-R total scores were significantly lower in older than younger individuals across the age range (eg, age 11 mean score = 10.7, SD = 12.5; age 21 mean score = 5.5, SD = 8.4; all s < .05). The youngest (age 11) and oldest males (ages 18–21) had higher total scores than females of the same age (s < .05). European-Americans had lower total scores than non-European Americans in all age bins (s < .001). Particular individual item responses also showed age, sex and race differences. Sample sizes across age bins ranged from = 187 to 848. To our knowledge, this is the first effort to provide normative, standardized reference scores for a psychosis spectrum screening tool. Our results underscore the need to interpret endorsements of community youths in the context of age, sex and race. The standard score tables developed here can facilitate assessment of the “normalcy” of individual responses according to these demographic parameters. Public availability of these normative data for use by clinicians and researchers in an online interface using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) should expedite and improve early identification of youths at risk for psychosis.