title: Executive function performance on the children's kitchen task assessment with children with sickle cell disease and matched controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare executive function abilities of 8- to 12-year-old children with sickle cell disease (SCD) with a matched control sample. The measures included the parent and teacher Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF); the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), Free Sorting Test and Color Word Interference Test; and the Children's Kitchen Task Assessment (CKTA), a new performance measure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two children with SCD were recruited from one hematology clinic and 22 community children, matched on characteristics of age, gender, and race, were selected from a larger sample of controls for comparison. Parents and teachers completed rating scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As hypothesized, children with SCD scored significantly lower than matched controls on Digit Span Forward; on 5 of the 9 D-KFES Color Word Interference and Sorting tasks; on CKTA organization, initiation, and task completion; and on the BRIEF's parent and teacher Metacognitive Index (MI) and Global Executive Composite (GEC) scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive and performance evaluations indicate lower executive function among children with SCD. Results substantiate the need for evaluative triangulation for children with SCD: Neurocognitive testing supported by performance testing, and adult reflection of a child's daily performance compared to other children. These elements will provide rich data to create educational support for children with SCD who have frequent hospitalizations, school absences, and the potential presence of cerebral vascular accident symptomology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy and Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63108, USA. cberg@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Dorothy Farrar
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis