Identifying Suitable Cognitive Assessments for Children and Adolescents with Acquired Brain Injury for use by Occupational Therapists in Acute and Subacute Hospital Contexts: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT

Aim

To appraise the literature evaluating psychometric properties and clinical utility of cognitive assessments available for use by occupational therapists in acute and subacute hospital contexts with children aged 4–18 years diagnosed with an acquired brain injury.

Methods

Scoping review. Assessments and associated studies were evaluated for their methodologic quality using the COnsensus-based standard for the Selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) strategy.

Results

Forty-one studies evaluated 49 different assessments and reported on assessment psychometrics (n = 40), clinical utility (n = 1) and five reported on both. Fourteen assessments with the strongest psychometric properties and clinical utility were shortlisted.

Conclusion

A gold standard assessment was not identified. Instead, a shortlist of functional, performance-based, technology-based, and self-report assessments were identified as relevant for the setting and population, but requiring further investigation. Future development of a cognitive assessment in partnership with therapists working in tertiary pediatric settings will ensure optimal clinical utility and validity.

KEYWORDS:

• Child
• adolescent
• brain injury
• psychometric properties
• clinical utility
• cognitive assessment

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the major metropolitan hospital for guiding our research project, offering use of their facilities, and providing ongoing support. We extend this appreciation to the four occupational therapy stakeholders who dedicated their time and perspectives during the consultation group, that contributed to the findings of this study.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17518423.2022.2099031

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.