Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Unilateral visual neglect, an attentional disorder, might show variability on repeated testing. This study investigated test-retest stability in elderly patients post-stroke, 85 with and 83 without neglect. Subjects repeated three common clinical tests for neglect within the hour; the Star Cancellation Test (SCT), Line Bisection (LB) and the Baking Tray Task (BTT). Data analysis indicated good to excellent test repeatability in subjects without neglect. For subjects with neglect, intraclass correlation analysis gave coefficients of .89, .97, and .87 for the SCT, LB, and BTT, respectively, indicating good to excellent agreement. However, analysis of this group, using the 95% limits of agreement, indicated poorer stability, with maximum test-retest differences of: 15 more or 11 less stars cancelled on the SCT, 3 cm for LB, and five "buns" on one side of the "tray" for the BTT. Limits of agreement analysis of sub-groups demonstrated better test-retest stability for the SCT, and a trend for this in the LB, in subjects with more severe neglect. Clinically, limits of agreement analysis is useful, providing indication of the maximum difference, in the units of the test, which may be expected on retest. We suggest that, if SCT, LB, or BTT are used as outcome measures, subjects with severe unilateral visual neglect are likely to show better stability on repeated testing. This may be especially relevant for single-case design when stability of baseline measurement is of particular importance. © 2004 Psychology Press Ltd.

Original publication

DOI

10.1080/09602010343000282

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

Publication Date

01/09/2004

Volume

14

Pages

403 - 419