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. 2022 Aug 22:18:1789-1798.
doi: 10.2147/NDT.S377430. eCollection 2022.

Psychometric Properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to Detect Major Neurocognitive Disorder Among Older People in Ethiopia: A Validation Study

Beniam Daniel  1 , Liyew Agenagnew  1 , Abdulhalik Workicho  2 , Mubarek Abera  1
Affiliations

Psychometric Properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to Detect Major Neurocognitive Disorder Among Older People in Ethiopia: A Validation Study

Beniam Daniel et al. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. .

Abstract

Background: Cognition is one of the most complex functions of the human brain, and major neurocognitive disorders affect this function causing a wide array of problems in an individual's life. Screening for major neurocognitive disorders can be helpful in designing and implementing early interventions.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess the reliability and validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool to detect major neurocognitive disorders among older people in Ethiopia.

Methods: One hundred and sixteen randomly selected older adults in Ethiopia were involved in a cross-sectional study. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for major neurocognitive disorders was used as a gold standard. Data were analyzed using STATA v16 statistical software. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed, and inter-rater, internal consistency reliabilities, content, criterion and construct validities were determined. Statistically significance was declared at a p-value of <0.05.

Results: The study had a 100% response rate. The mean age of the study participants was 69.87 ± 7.8. The inter-rater reliability value was 0.96, and Cronbach's alpha was 0.79. The optimal cutoff value was ≤21, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment has an area under curve value of 0.89. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and positive and negative predictive values of MoCA are 87.18%, 74.03%, 3.35, 0.17, 63%, and 91.9%, respectively. The tool also has good concurrent and construct validities.

Conclusion: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool was a reliable and valid tool to detect major neurocognitive disorder. It can be incorporated into the clinical and research practices in developing countries.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; major neuro-cognitive disorder; validity and reliability.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
ROC curve of MOCA for detection of major neurocognitive disorder, 2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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