The Stick Design Test on the assessment of older adults with low formal education: evidences of construct, criterion-related and ecological validity

Abstract

The Stick Design Test shows evidence of construct, criterion-related and ecological validity. It is an interesting alternative to drawing tasks for the assessment of visuospatial abilities.

Low education and lack of spousal relationship are associated with dementia in older adults with diabetes mellitus in Nigeria

“…This test was developed to assess the visuo‐constructional abilities of older adults without formal education . The instrument has been used in studies in Nigeria and Brazil . Scores range from 0 to 12, with a score less than 5 indicating possible cognitive impairment …”

“…16 The instrument has been used in studies in Nigeria and Brazil. 12,17 Scores range from 0 to 12, with a score less than 5 indicating possible cognitive impairment. 16 • 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale.…”

A Systematic Review of Neuropsychological Tests for the Assessment of Dementia in Non-Western, Low-Educated or Illiterate Populations

“…Although a study by de Paula, Costa, et al (2013) also described the Stick Design Test as useful, "eliciting less negative emotional reactions [than the Constructional Praxis Test] and lowering anxiety levels", it showed ceiling effects in both healthy controls and patients, similar to the Clock Drawing Test. Generally, the Stick Design Test had fair AUCs of .76 to .79 (Baiyewu et al, 2005;de Paula, Costa, et al, 2013;de Paula, Bertola, et al, 2013). AUCs for the Constructional Praxis were low (Baiyewu et al, 2005), not reported (Das et al, 2007), or left out of the report due to "low diagnostic ability" (Sahadevan et al, 2002).…”

Screening for Alzheimer's disease in low-educated or illiterate older adults in Brazil: a systematic review

“…Most of the studies found in this review compared the diagnostic accuracy of new instruments, such as the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale, or combinations of traditional screening instruments, with the accuracy of the MMSE. These studies have indicated that longer instruments, such as the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale and the Cambridge Cognition Examination, and shorter ones, such as the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument-Short Form, may be just as accurate in detecting AD in populations with little educat ion 3,20,21,22,25,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44 . When combined with the MMSE, these instruments may increase the diagnostic accuracy 3 .…”

“…Other studies have underlined the need for caution when interpreting Clock Drawing Test findings, as the level of education is a potential source of bias 46,56 . Yet, other studies have shown that adapted forms of assessment of constructive praxis, such as the Stick Design Test or the Adpated Taylor Figure, may be an important complement to the cognitive screening of older adults with low education 39,57 .…”