VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF LEVELS OF COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING ASSESSMENT SCALE FOR ADULTS WITH CLOSED HEAD INJURIES.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 303
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Prevalence of persons surviving from traumatic brain injury in America is estimated at more than two and one-half million. Nurses have the responsibility of accurate assessment of the level of cognitive functioning of patients with brain injuries early in the post-trauma period to enhance rehabilitation through the use of appropriate care plans. The purpose of the study was to establish support for aspects of validity and reliability of the instrument, Levels of Cognitive Functioning Assessment Scale (LOCFAS). Guided by the conceptual framework derived from Neuman's Systems Model and cognitive theory, the research questions posed were: (1) What is the support for content validity of the LOCFAS instrument?, (2) What is the support for construct validity of the LOCFAS instrument?, and (3) What is the support for reliability of the LOCFAS instrument?.

The study was conducted in three phases. Phase One: Two panels of experts evaluated validity of LOCFAS, a modified version of the Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning instrument. Support was found for content and construct validity with greater than 60% mean of agreements and ranging from 54-100% agreement over multiple tests of validity. Phase Two: A third panel of experts evaluated construct validity and reliability of LOCFAS by categorizing the vignettes using the instrument. Interrater reliability and construct validity were supported with 100% agreement in ranking behaviors into cognitive levels. The panel also served as a pilot to clarify instructions and estimate time needed for subject participation. Phase Three: A sample of 237 staff nurses and senior nursing students categorized vignettes using LOCFAS to test reliability of LOCFAS. The interrater reliability mean of agreements was 96.1%. Stability of items over time was estimated through test-retest with 190 of the subjects and at least a two-week interval allowed between tests. Test-retest reliability mean of agreements was 98.52%. N0 effect on percentage of agreement among subjects related to neuroscience exposure was found. Further research should utilize an improved LOCFAS, based on findings from this study. Studies should use observations of actual patients with brain injuries to test whether care plans based on these assessments of early post trauma enhance recovery.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-11, Section: B, page: 3248.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1987.

School code: 0005.