A comparison of remote and in-clinic digital cognitive assessments for older adults in primary care settings
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BACKGROUND
Timely identification of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is critical for maximizing early intervention opportunities in older adults at risk for dementia. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and validity of novel digital cognitive tests in primary care. METHODS: In a two-phase pilot study across three clinics, 51 older adults completed digital cognitive assessments remotely on personal devices followed by supervised tablet-based cognitive screening in-clinic and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Surveys and interviews assessed patient and provider acceptability. Digital test completion rates were examined to assess feasibility.
RESULTS
Completion rates ranged from 61.5% - 76% for the at-home assessments and 81.8% for in-clinic testing. Participants generally preferred at-home testing. Providers found in-clinic testing acceptable but identified barriers related to device access and EMR integration. All but one digital test showed moderate correlations with the MoCA.
CONCLUSION
Digital cognitive screening—whether remote or in-clinic—shows promise for primary care implementation.
