Construct Validity Supports Use of a Novel, Tablet-Based Neurocognitive Assessment for Adolescents and Young Adults Affected by Perinatal HIV from Vulnerable Communities in the United States

R N Robbins; L Kluisza; J Liu; A F Santoro; J Raymond; N Ngyuen; S Espinel; E Siegel; C Dolezal; A Wiznia; E J Abrams; C A Mellins

doi:10.1007/s10461-020-03099-3

Construct Validity Supports Use of a Novel, Tablet-Based Neurocognitive Assessment for Adolescents and Young Adults Affected by Perinatal HIV from Vulnerable Communities in the United States

AIDS Behav. 2021 Apr;25(4):1185-1191. doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-03099-3. Epub 2020 Nov 12.

Authors

R N Robbins¹, L Kluisza², J Liu³, A F Santoro², J Raymond², N Ngyuen², S Espinel², E Siegel², C Dolezal², A Wiznia⁴, E J Abrams⁵, C A Mellins²

Affiliations

¹ HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA. rnr2110@cumc.columbia.edu.
² HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
³ New York State Psychiatric Institute, Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
⁵ Mailman School of Public Health and Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, ICAP at Columbia University, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

Abstract

Construct validity of novel tablet-based neurocognitive tests (in the NeuroScreen app) measuring processing speed, working memory, and executive functioning in adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with perinatally-acquired HIV (PHIV) and perinatal HIV-exposure without infection (PHEU) was examined. Sixty-two AYA (33 PHIV, 29 PHEU) were recruited from an ongoing longitudinal study (CASAH) in New York City. Medium to large and statistically significant correlations were found between NeuroScreen and gold standard, paper-and-pencil tests of processing speed, working memory, and executive functioning. Results provide partial support for NeuroScreen as an alternative to cumbersome paper-and-pencil tests for assessing neurocognition among HIV-affected AYA.

Keywords: Construct validity; NeuroScreen; Neurocognitive assessment; Neurocognitive impairment; Perinatal HIV infection.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Executive Function
Female
HIV Infections* / diagnosis
HIV Infections* / epidemiology
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
Longitudinal Studies
Mental Status and Dementia Tests
New York City / epidemiology
Pregnancy
United States / epidemiology
Young Adult

Abstract

MeSH terms

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