V. Lenger et al., INFORMANT QUESTIONNAIRES AS SCREENING MEASURES TO DETECT DEMENTIA - APILOT-STUDY IN THE SOUTH-AFRICAN CONTEXT, South African medical journal, 86(6), 1996, pp. 737-741
Objectives. Them is currently no appropriate cognitive screening test
available to diagnose dementia cross-culturally in South Africa. The a
im of this pilot study was to investigate the efficacy of an informant
questionnaire in detecting cognitive decline in the elderly. Design.
The Deterioration Cognitive Observee (DECO), an informant questionnair
e previously used abroad, was administered to relatives of elderly pat
ients, Relatives were also asked a series of open-ended questions abou
t the patient's cognitive abilities and behaviour. The DECO results we
re compared with patients' scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination
(MMSE), the cognitive measure currently used to assess a patient's le
vel of cognitive decline, as well as with the clinicians' diagnosis. S
etting. The interviews were completed at the Groote Schuur Hospital Ge
riatric Clinic during the months of May and June 1994. Subjects. The s
ubjects were patients (N = 20) and their relatives (N = 20) attending
the Geriatric Clinic. Results. DECO scores correctly predicted normal
functioning in 7 patients and dementia in 8, The DECO scores correlate
d with the MMSE scores (r = 0.625; P < 0.01) and MMSE scores correlate
d with the clinicians' diagnosis (chi(2) = 0.114; df = 1; P = 0.73). O
pen-ended questions confirmed the clinicians' diagnosis, Conclusion. T
he DECO was found to predict dementia correctly in all but the severel
y demented patients, As the DECO appears to be a suitable alternative
to cognitive testing, it should be considered as a possible screening
measure for dementia in elderly people in South Africa.