title: Verbal fluency tests reliability in a Brazilian multicentric study, ELSA-Brasil.
abstract: Verbal Fluency Tests (VFT) are commonly used to assess executive functions and language in clinical and epidemiological studies. These tests were included to access cognitive function and predictors to its decline in ELSA-Brasil (Longitudinal Study of Adults' Health), a cohort that investigates incidence and predictors of chronic diseases among 15,000 civil servants from six public educational institutions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the reliability of VFT scoring by supervisors of. ELSA research centers, who independently judged 120 category (animals) and 120 phonemic (F letter) tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Their scores were compared to a reference standard score obtained by independent judgment of two experts. Intraclass correlation coefficient ratings reliability and Bland-Altman plot examined patterns of ratings disagreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scores were very similar among ELSA centers and a high level of agreement was observed between each center and the reference standard.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high consistency of VFT scores confirms reliability and validity of the test and assures quality for its use in multicenter studies.
authors: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 　vpassos@medicina.ufmg.br
authors: Valéria Maria de Azeredo
authors: VM
authors: Passos
authors: Luana
authors: L
authors: Giatti
authors: Sandhi Maria
authors: SM
authors: Barreto
authors: Roberta Carvalho
authors: RC
authors: Figueiredo
authors: Paulo
authors: P
authors: Caramelli
authors: Isabela
authors: I
authors: Benseñor
authors: Maria de Jesus Mendes
authors: Mde J
authors: da Fonseca
authors: Nagela Valadão
authors: NV
authors: Cade
authors: Alessandra Carvalho
authors: AC
authors: Goulart
authors: Maria Angélica
authors: MA
authors: Nunes
authors: Márcia Guimarães de Mello
authors: MG
authors: Alves
authors: Ana Angélica Martins
authors: AA
authors: da Trindade
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*