Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35931914›Full record

ArticleAging clinical and experimental research2022

Comparison of verbal and computerised months backwards tests in a hospitalized older population.

Martin Mulligan, Leona Lally, Dimitrios Adamis, David Meagher, Chris Exton, Colum Dunne, Geraldine McCarthy

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Aging clinical and experimental research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 44% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Diffuse optical tomography for mapping cerebral hemodynamics and functional connectivity in delirium.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Martin MulliganSchool of Medicine, NUIG, Galway, Ireland. m.mulligan6@outlook.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2042-257X
Leona LallySchool of Medicine, NUIG, Galway, Ireland.
Dimitrios AdamisDepartment of Psychiatry, Sligo Mental Health Service, Sligo University Hospital, Sligo, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1315-1695
David MeagherDepartment of Psychiatry, Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8324-8017
Chris ExtonDepartment of Computer Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Colum DunneCognitive Impairment Research Group, Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5010-3185
Geraldine McCarthySchool of Medicine, NUIG, Galway, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1312-0998
Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway · IEUniversity of Limerick · IESligo University Hospital · IE

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDelirium is extremely prevalent, yet underdiagnosed, in older patients and is associated with prolonged length of hospital stay and higher mortality rates. Impaired attention is the cardinal deficit in delirium and is a required feature in diagnostic criteria. The verbal months backwards test (MBT) is the most sensitive bedside test of attention, however, hospital staff occasionally have difficulty with its administration and interpretation. We hypothesise that the MBT on an electronic tablet may be easier and more consistent to use for both experienced and unexperienced medical professionals and, if the diagnostic efficacy was similar, aid delirium diagnosis.

aimWe aim to investigate the correlation of the verbal MBT with a computerised MBT application.

methodsParticipants recruited (age > 65, n = 75) were allocated to different cohorts (Dementia and Delirium (DMDL), Dementia (DM), Delirium (DL), No Neurocognitive Disorder (NNCD)) and were administered both the verbal and electronic versions.

resultsCorrelation between measurements were: overall Spearman's rho = 0.772 (p < 0.0001); DMDL rho = 0.666 (p < 0.0001); DL rho = 0.778 (p = 0.039); DM rho = 0.378 (p = 0.203); NNCD rho = 0.143 (p = 0.559). DISCUSSION: Overall, and for the delirious subset, statistically significant agreement was present. Poor inter-test correlation existed in the groups without delirium (DM, NNCD).

conclusionsThe MBTc correlates well with the MBTv in patients who are clinically suspected to have delirium but has poor correlation in patients without delirium. Visuospatial cognition and psychomotor deficits in a dementia cohort and mechanical factors (such as tremor, poor fingernail hygiene and visual impairment) in a group with no neurocognitive disorder may limit the utility of the MBTc in a hospitalised older population.

Indexed as

DeliriumDementiaAgedHospitalizationHospitalsHumansLength of StayAttentionDeliriumDementiaInformation technologyMonths backwards test

Identifiers

PMID35931914
PMCPMC9675648
OpenAlexW4289939068

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.