Evaluation instruments for executive functions in children and adolescents: an update of a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The aim of this study is to update a systematic review of instruments for evaluating the executive functions (EFs) in a pediatric population to assess their measurement properties.

Area covered

Studies describing evaluation tools of EFs were systematically searched on four electronic databases: PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science. To be included studies had to be on a population aged 0 to 18 were included. The individuals were either healthy or presented a neurodevelopment disorder. Risk of Bias was evaluated through the Consensus-based Standards to select the health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN).

Expert opinion

The search was conducted on April 2023. Eighty-four papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study; the studies refer to 72 different evaluation tools of EFs. Most of the studies analyzed through a methodological quality analysis received an ‘adequate’ score. The instrument most mentioned was the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF2) in seven articles.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• children
• executive functions
• neurodevelopment
• pediatric assessment
• validated instruments

Article highlights

• This work aims to update a systematic review of instruments for evaluating the executive functions (EFs) in a pediatric population to assess their measurement properties.

• The scales of EFs most used are the BRIEF2 and BRIEF-P, and they both value same aspects such as Inhibit, Self-Monitoring, Shifting, Emotional Control, Task Completion, Working Memory, and Planning and Organization. BRIEF2 values children between 5 and 18 years old while BRIEF-P values the ages between 2 and 5 years old and 11 months old.

• Thanks to this update of the systematic review on executive functions in children and adolescents, clinicians and researchers have clear information and valid and reliable assessment tools to use.

• The Ef most used on the scales are Working memory, Inhibition and Organization skills and the pediatric population age range valued is from 2.8 to 18 years old.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Availability of data and material

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.