A standardization study of the Czech version of the Mississippi Aphasia Screening Test (MASTcz) in stroke patients and control subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the criterion and construct validity and inter-rater reliability of the Czech version of the Mississippi Aphasia Screening Test (MASTcz).


METHODS
Prospective evaluation of consecutive inpatients admitted to the stroke unit of a university hospital within 60 days of onset of a unilateral left hemispheric ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke with documented aphasia (LHA + ; n = 149). As control groups, unilateral right hemisphere stroke patients without aphasia (RHA-; n = 45) and healthy volunteers recruited from the community to comprise a non-patient control group (CG; n = 243) were examined.


METHODS
Data collection included administration of MASTcz (in 52 LHA + patients, repeated by two blinded observers within 24 hours), Edinburgh inventory, Minimental State Examination score and chart review. The presence of aphasia was documented with a standard clinical logopaedic examination and also with the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) in 45 LHA+ patients.


RESULTS
MASTcz displayed high criterion validity (with sensitivity and specificity above 90%) in discrimination between stroke aphasia patients and both control subjects and RHA- stroke patients, high construct validity (close correlation with WAB score; r = 0.933), and acceptable interrater reliability.


CONCLUSIONS
Analyses suggest the usefulness of MASTcz as a reliable and valid screening tool for the detection of aphasia and tracking of its progress.
Kostálová
Milena
M
Department of Neurology, Faculty Hospital and Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic.
Bártková
Eva
E
Sajgalíková
Katerina
K
Dolenská
Alice
A
Dusek
Ladislav
L
Bednarík
Josef
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001037:Aphasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013070:Speech Therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult