Original Research
Montreal Cognitive Assessment: Exploring the impact of demographic variables, internal consistency reliability and discriminant validity in a South African sample
African Journal of Psychological Assessment | Vol 4 | a73 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajopa.v4i0.73
| © 2022 Elisabeth Kirkbride, Aline Ferreira-Correia, Mlinganisi Sibandze
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 20 July 2021 | Published: 24 February 2022
Submitted: 20 July 2021 | Published: 24 February 2022
About the author(s)
Elisabeth Kirkbride, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaAline Ferreira-Correia, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Mlinganisi Sibandze, Department of Psychiatry, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Abstract
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is widely used to screen for cognitive impairment and has shown a good capacity to identify cognitive impairment. However, its psychometric properties have not been sufficiently studied in the South African context. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate (1) the influence of demographic variables (age, years of education, and gender) on total MoCA scores; (2) the internal consistency reliability of the test and (3) the discriminant validity of the total MoCA score. This study analysed secondary quantitative data, utilising a cross-sectional, between-subjects design. All participants completed the English MoCA version 8.1. The control sample (n = 89) included healthy South African adults who speak English as a second or third language and who have been educated in public schools. The clinical sample (n = 83) included patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a comorbid disorder, either psychiatric (n = 70) or neurocognitive (n = 13). Total MoCA scores were significantly correlated with years of education (p < 0.001) and age (p = 0.007) but not gender. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.64 revealing moderate internal consistency. The total MoCA score was not a significant predictor of diagnostic status, indicating poor discriminant validity of the MoCA in this sample. The MoCA appears not to be a useful screening or diagnostic tool in samples with similar characteristics.
Keywords
HAD; HAND; HIV; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; psychometrics; screening
Metrics
Total abstract views: 2533Total article views: 3472
Crossref Citations
1. Looking inward: Reflections on the African Journal of Psychological Assessment and the way forward
Sumaya Laher
African Journal of Psychological Assessment vol: 4 year: 2022
doi: 10.4102/ajopa.v4i0.132