Evaluation of reliability of traditional and computerized neurobehavioral tests.
Most Korean blue-collar workers are taking government-mandated medical screening periodically. The periodic neurobehavioral test provides a great chance to evaluate the functional change of the central nervous system. To utilize periodic neurobehavioral tests effectively, the reliability of currently used neurobehavioral tests needs to be evaluated. Test-retest of neurobehavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the reliability of neurobehavioral tests that are commonly used for Korean workers. The test-retest of five computerized tests, simple reaction time, additions, symbol digit, digit span, and finger tapping speed, and five traditional tests, Benton visual retention, digit symbol, digit span, pursuit aiming, and pegboard, were administered to 85 college students and 35 hospital workers over a 1 month interval. Computerized additions was found to have the highest test-retest reliability coefficient (r=0.90), followed by finger tapping speed (nondominant hand, r=0.89; dominant hand, r=0.85), symbol digit (r=0.82), and digit span (r=0.74). However, only two traditional tests, digit symbol (r=0.86) and pursuit aiming (r=0.72), showed a reliability coefficient greater than 0.70. These results suggest that the computerized additions, symbol digit, finger tapping speed, and traditional digit symbol are more satisfactory for periodical evaluation of the central nervous system of workers exposed to neurotoxic substances in Korea.
Sakong
Joon
J
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, 317-1 Daemyung-dong, Nam-gu, Daegu 705-717, Republic of Korea. jsakong@med.yu.ac.kr
Kang
Pock-Soo
PS
Kim
Chang-Yoon
CY
Hwang
Tae-Yoon
TY
Jeon
Man-Joong
MJ
Park
Si-Young
SY
Lee
Se-Jin
SJ
Won
Kyu-Chang
KC
Lee
Sam-Beom
SB
Chung
Jong-Hak
JH
D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D003201:Computers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013334:Students
D004785:Environmental Pollutants