Validation of a telephone version of the mini-mental state examination.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the construct validity of a telephone-administered version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).


METHODS
Validity testing by comparing a telephone version of the MMSE administered first to a face-to-face evaluation done several days later.


METHODS
Outpatient geriatric assessment center.


METHODS
100 of 175 consecutive referrals.


METHODS
MMSE and a brief neuropsychological screening test (BNPS) face-to-face and a telephone version of the MMSE as part of the Adult Lifestyles and Function Interview (ALFI-MMSE).


RESULTS
Test scores of the two MMSE versions correlated strongly for all subjects (Pearson's r = 0.85, P = 0.001) and remained significant for the cognitively intact (P = 0.02) and questionably (P = 0.002), mildly (P = 0.0001), and moderately (P = 0.003) demented. Comparison of the two versions' equivalent 22 items revealed no significant difference for scores of all subjects (P = 0.07) but with a trend toward higher scores in the original version. Diminished hearing, reported either by the subject (P = 0.003) or by the collateral source (P = 0.02) was associated with lower scores on the telephone version. Five individual test items were biased by the route of test administration. Sensitivity and specificity relative to the BNPS were 67% and 100% for the ALFI-MMSE and 68% and 100% for the MMSE, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The scores on the ALFI-MMSE correlated strongly with the scores of the original version given face-to-face in subjects undergoing geriatric assessment. The results indicate that the ALFI-MMSE could be a useful and economical tool to screen for cognitive impairment.
Roccaforte
W H
WH
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-5575.
Burke
W J
WJ
Bayer
B L
BL
Wengel
S P
SP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000592:standards*; D009329:Nebraska / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D044469:Racial Groups; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*