title: A Tablet-PC-Based Cancellation Test Assessing Executive Functions in Older Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine older adults' performance on a newly developed tablet-PC-based cancellation test (e-CT) and to study its psychometric properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  94 older adults with normal cognitive functioning were recruited. The effects of age, education, sex, and experience with computer-based devices on the e-CT were examined. Construct validity was tested by correlating the e-CT with established measures of executive functions (EF) and episodic memory. Correlation coefficients were used to assess short-term test-retest reliablity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of participants was 74.6 (SD: 7.3) years and 78% were women. Sixty-nine percent had higher education level (> high school) and 76% used computer-based devices daily. The correct cancellations (CC) on the e-CT ranged from 18 to 56, with a mean (SD) of 40.3 (5.7). The CC was inversely correlated with advancing age (rs = -0.59, N = 94, p <0.001) and positively associated with higher education level (U(94) = 646.5, p = 0.02). No relationship was observed between the e-CT and sex or computer-based device experience. In multivariate analysis, only age remained significantly associated with CC (β = -0.46, SE = 0.07, t = -6.47, df = 93, p <0.001). The e-CT correlated significantly with most of measures of EF. Highest correlations were found between the e-CT and the K-T test, a paper-and-pencil cancellation test (rs = 0.63, N = 90, p <0.001) and TMT-B (rs = -0.41, N = 85, p <0.001). The e-CT did not correlate with the RL-RI 16 episodic memory test. The correlation between the first and second e-CT indicated good reliability (rs = 0.89, N = 13, p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggested that e-CT has good psychometric properties and may be useful for assessing EF in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Broca Hospital, and University Paris Descartes, Paris, France. Electronic address: yahuei.wu@brc.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Ya-Huei
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Broca Hospital, and University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.affiliation: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Broca Hospital, and University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jocelyne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Rotrou
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer Center and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sietske A M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sikkes
authors.affiliation: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Broca Hospital, and University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rigaud
authors.affiliation: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Broca Hospital, and University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plichart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Computer experience; computerized cognitive assessment; executive functions; psychometrics