[Reliability assessment of the EUROTEST].
BACKGROUND
The EUROTEST is a valid and useful instrument for detecting cognitive impairment and dementia. Our aim was to assess the test-retest reliability (TRTR) and the inter-rater reliability (IRR) of this instrument.


METHODS
We assessed the TRTR by means of a cross-sectional repeated measures design in 30 subjects with no cognitive impairment. The IRR was determined through the blind assessment of 10 test administrations by 20 independent observers. In both instances we calculated the intra-class correlation coefficient and we compared those coefficients with the ones of the semantic Verbal Fluency Test (sVFT) obtained with the same samples and procedures.


RESULTS
There were not significant differences concerning the characteristics of the subjects included in this study and those of previous studies on the EUROTEST. The EUROTEST showed a significantly higher TRTR (0.94 [95% CI: 0.87-0.97]) than the sVFT (0.51 [95% CI: 0.17- 0.74]), but there was not significant difference in IRR between the EUROTEST (0.91 [95% CI: 0.82-0.97]) and the sVFT (0.96 [95% CI: 0.91-0.99]).


CONCLUSIONS
The EUROTEST shows high TRTR and IRR; therefore, this instrument is appropriate for the longitudinal assessment of subjects with dementia and their response to treatment.
Carnero-Pardo
C
C
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain. ccarnerop@supercable.es
Gurpegui
M
M
Sánchez-Cantalejo
E
E
Camello
A Gómez
AG
Santervás
P Guardado
PG
Ríos
M T Montoro
MT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology