Validation of the Executive Function Route-Finding Task (EFRT) in People with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Reliability and validity of the Executive Function Route-finding Task (EFRT) with people diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment was examined. Twenty-three people with mild cognitive impairment with a mean age of 77.4 (± 7.5) years and 23 healthy controls with a mean age of 74.3 (± 4.9) years participated. The EFRT was administered along with other tests for executive functions: Executive Interview and two subtests from the Executive Functions Performance Test (EFPT). Findings showed high inter-rater reliability for the EFRT. In addition, the control group performed significantly better on all tests, thus confirming the construct validity of the EFRT. However, further examination into the clinical significance of these findings is needed. Concurrent validity was partially demonstrated by low to moderate significant correlation between the EFRT and one subtest from the EFPT. The results of this study support the reliability and validity of the EFRT among people with mild cognitive impairment.