Validity and Reliability of Cognitive Assessment Using Virtual Environment Technology in Patients with Stroke

Abstract

Objectives: We assessed the validity and reliability of a virtual environment technology (VET)-based cognitive assessment program that was developed as a measurement tool of cognitive abilities in patients after a stroke. Design: Twenty participants diagnosed with stroke caused by unilateral brain lesions were enrolled to assess the VET program's validity and test-retest reliability. Participants underwent evaluation by paper-based neuropsychological tests including the Korean Mini-Mental Status Examination, the Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Motor Free Visual Perception Test, Rey-Kim Memory Test, and Kim's Frontal-Executive Neuropsychologic Test as well as the VET-based cognitive assessment. Major variables and indices of the VET program were calculated. The VET program validity was evaluated using a simple correlation analysis between variables from the VET program and conventional paper-based neuropsychological measurements, and the reliability was evaluated by investigating the test-retest correlation coefficients. Results: Major variables and indices of the VET program in patients with stroke correlated significantly with the related scores of paper-based neuropsychological tests. In addition, the test-retest reliability analysis revealed that the correlation coefficients ranged from 0.528 to 0.926. Conclusion: The VET-based cognitive assessment program showed adequate reliability and validity as a method of cognitive assessment in patients after stroke.