Assessment of executive functions in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI) using a novel complex multi-tasking computerised task: The Jansari assessment of Executive Functions for Children (JEF-C^©)

Abstract

JEF-C is a playful complex task that appears to be a sensitive and ecologically valid assessment tool, especially for relatively high-functioning individuals.

Hebrew version of the Jansari assessment of Executive Functions for Children (JEF-C©): Translation, adaptation and validation

“…Jansari assessment of Executive Functions for Children (JEF-C © : Jansari et al, 2012) JEF-C © has been developed to assess EFs for children and adolescents between 8 and 18 years old. JEF-C © is a mixed-reality neuropsychological test using nonimmerse VR in combination with "paper and pencil" (Gilboa et al, 2019). There are sixteen subtasks to be completed during the assessment, which are grouped under 8 proposed executive behaviours/constructs thought to be central to executive function namely: Planning (PL), Prioritization (PR), Selective Thinking (ST), Creative Thinking (CT), Adaptive Thinking (AT), Action Based Prospective Memory (APM), Event-Based Prospective Memory (EPM), and Time-Based Prospective Memory (TPM).…”

“…The assessment is based around a birthday party, whereby, the participant is responsible for organizing their own party. For each of the eight constructs, realistic tasks that could happen in a child's birthday party have been developed, whereby the participant is asked to plan, set up and run this party through the completion of tasks by moving freely through the virtual home (Gilboa et al, 2019). Please see Table 1 for an operational definition and example of a subtask for each construct.…”

“…A children's version of this task, JEF-C © (the Jansari assessment of Executive Functions for Children) has been developed (Jansari et al, 2012) and a French translation used successfully with children and adolescents (Gilboa et al, 2019). The Gilboa et al (2019) was able to demonstrate the sensitivity of the task in detecting deficits in EFs following paediatric brain injury.…”

“…A children's version of this task, JEF-C © (the Jansari assessment of Executive Functions for Children) has been developed (Jansari et al, 2012) and a French translation used successfully with children and adolescents (Gilboa et al, 2019). The Gilboa et al (2019) was able to demonstrate the sensitivity of the task in detecting deficits in EFs following paediatric brain injury. Run on a standard laptop, whereby the participant organizes a birthday party and overcomes certain problems which arise during the party, this test assesses eight constructs portraying the different aspects of EFs, such as planning, adaptive thinking and prospective memory (see Method for further details).…”

“…In conclusion, the Jansari assessment of Executive Functions for Children (JEF-C © ) is a non-immersive VR assessment of executive functions, originally standardized in English (Jansari et al, 2012); further it has been adapted and translated to be suitable for French children and adolescents (Gilboa et al, 2019). The objective of the current study was to translate JEF-C © into Hebrew as well as creating a cultural adaptation, and evaluating its psychometric properties in an Israeli sample of children and adolescents.…”