title: [An exploratory study on the use of cognitive and neuropsychological assessessments in centres for the elderly in Galicia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive assessment is a fundamental tool in centres for the elderly when planning individualized care and intervention. The Galician Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Sociedade Galega of Xerontoloxía and Xeriatría) has formed a Working Group on Cognitive and Neuropsychological Assessment, with the aim of studying the tools used and to identify the main challenges in this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory study was conducted via an online questionnaire with Sociedade Galega of Xerontoloxía and Xeriatría members between December 2013 and January 2014. It was completed by 49 professionals, of whom 26 were professionals in psychology and 10 medical doctors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consensus was found on the use of the MMSE as a screening tool, as well as the Global Deterioration Scale for dementia. There is a wide variation in the choice of general batteries of tests for the assessment of dementia (CAMCOG-R, ADAS-Cog, abbreviated Barcelona Test), and of the use of specific tests and a severe impairment battery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of bias in the sector is suggested, with a high percentage of general practitioners using a few tools, and a small percentage using a large number of specific tools. The need for a consensus is stressed in order to facilitate assessment, objectify training needs, maximize the relationship between assessment and cognitive intervention, and provide tools to assess change.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicoloxía Evolutiva e da Educación, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España; Grupo de Traballo sobre Avaliación Cognitiva e Neuropsicolóxica, Sociedade Galega de Xerontoloxía e Xeriatría (SGXX), España. Electronic address: david.facal@usc.es.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Facal
authors.affiliation: Centro Xerontológico A Veiga, Lugo, España; Grupo de Traballo sobre Avaliación Cognitiva e Neuropsicolóxica, Sociedade Galega de Xerontoloxía e Xeriatría (SGXX), España.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mouriz Corbelle
authors.affiliation: Centro Gerontológico La Milagrosa, A Coruña, España; Grupo de Investigación en Gerontología, Universidade de A Coruña, A Coruña, España; Grupo de Traballo sobre Avaliación Cognitiva e Neuropsicolóxica, Sociedade Galega de Xerontoloxía e Xeriatría (SGXX), España.
authors.forename: Aranzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balo-García
authors.affiliation: Centro Gerontológico La Milagrosa, A Coruña, España; Grupo de Investigación en Gerontología, Universidade de A Coruña, A Coruña, España; Grupo de Traballo sobre Avaliación Cognitiva e Neuropsicolóxica, Sociedade Galega de Xerontoloxía e Xeriatría (SGXX), España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González-Abraldes
authors.affiliation: Mayores Atención a la Dependencia, A Coruña, España; Grupo de Traballo sobre Avaliación Cognitiva e Neuropsicolóxica, Sociedade Galega de Xerontoloxía e Xeriatría (SGXX), España.
authors.forename: Xosé
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Caamaño Ponte
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicoloxía Evolutiva e da Educación, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España; Centro Xerontológico A Veiga, Lugo, España; Grupo de Traballo sobre Avaliación Cognitiva e Neuropsicolóxica, Sociedade Galega de Xerontoloxía e Xeriatría (SGXX), España.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dosil Díaz
authors.affiliation: Centro Gerontológico La Milagrosa, A Coruña, España; Grupo de Investigación en Gerontología, Universidade de A Coruña, A Coruña, España.
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Millán-Calenti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011996:Records; D013030:Spain
keywords: Baterías de evaluación del deterioro severo; Cognitive assessment; Escalas globales de demencia; Evaluación cognitiva; Evaluación neuropsicológica; Global dementia scales; Neuropsychological assessment; Screening tests; Severe impairment batteries; Tests de cribado