title: Clinical significance of an easy-to-use dual task for assessing inattention.
abstract: Purpose To investigate clinical significance of a newly developed paper-and-pencil type dual-task (Oiso-DT) for assessing inattention of brain-damaged patients. Methods A total of 134 healthy individuals and 44 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were the subjects. Oiso-DT combined a cancelation sub-task and a written calculation sub-task on paper. The performance was scored based on the correct rate (CR) and success rate in the cancelation sub-task, and the number of correct answers and CR in the calculation sub-task for three minutes. Performances of Clinical Assessment for Attention (CAT) developed by The Japan Society for Higher Brain Dysfunction were also measured in TBI patients. Results Based on a simple and unique definition of cutoff values, abnormal performance was detected more often in the Oiso-DT than in any sub-task of CAT including Symbol Digit Modalities Test, The Memory Updating Test and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task, etc. although the specificity was comparable. Conclusion This easy-to-use Oiso-DT might be valuable and sensitive for detecting inattention including mild deficit. Implications for Rehabilitation The Oiso-DT, a paper-and-pencil clinical test for assessing inattention demonstrates higher sensitivity for traumatic-brain-injury patients than standard neuropsychological tests. The task performance is evaluated by a simple and unique method without specific equipment or even a personal computer. The Oiso-DT might be valuable for detecting inattention including mild deficit. The Oiso-DT is easily applicable to patients with severe inattention who failed to complete complex tasks like paced auditory serial addition task.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Tokai University Oiso Hospital , Oiso , Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toyokura
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Tokai University Oiso Hospital , Oiso , Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Tokai University Oiso Hospital , Oiso , Japan.
authors.forename: Iori
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akutsu
authors.affiliation: b Division of Clinical Psychology , Ohta Atami General Hospital , Kooriyama , Japan.
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Cutoff values; Oiso dual-task; diagnostic sensitivity; traumatic brain injury