The quality of measurement properties of neurocognitive assessment in brain tumor clinical trials over the last 30 years
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REVIEW ARTICLE
The quality of measurement properties of neurocognitive assessment in brain tumor clinical trials over the last 30 years: a COSMIN checklist-based approach Maria De Martino 1 & Barbara Santini 2 & Giovanna Cappelletti 2 & Annapina Mazzotta 2 & Matteo Rasi 2 & Giorgia Bulgarelli 2 & Luciano Annicchiarico 2 & Alessandro Marcocci 3 & Andrea Talacchi 2 Received: 18 February 2020 / Accepted: 20 May 2020 # Fondazione Società Italiana di Neurologia 2020
Abstract Purpose To provide an exhaustive review of the neuropsychological examination as conducted in brain tumor clinical trials over the last 30 years and to provide objective ratings about the reliability and suitability of such tests in neurooncological research and clinical practice. Methods Methodologies and tools provided by the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) were exploited in order to assess the measurement properties of questionnaires and performancebased instruments used to evaluate cognitive functioning in brain tumor clinical trials from 1997 to 2017. Results Twenty-six brain tumor clinical trials were analyzed and an overall set of 10 neuropsychological tests was identified. A list of 24 studies concerning the reliability of such tests was analyzed. Reliability and level of evidence scores for each study and for each test were obtained. The results revealed relevant faults about the quality of measurements and the suitability of the neurocognitive assessment batteries most commonly used in brain tumor clinical trials. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the cognitive assessment in brain tumor clinical trials should be implemented according to specific endpoints and should be addressed to investigate all the cognitive domains known to be affected by brain tumor and treatment. Keywords Neurocognitive assessment . Brain tumor . COSMIN . Clinical trials . Cognitive function
Introduction Cognitive deficits occur in up to 90% of all brain tumor patients [1]. Attention, memory, and executive functions are the typically compromised domains, albeit other elective damages Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04477-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Maria De Martino [email protected] 1
Department of Political and Communication Sciences, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, (SA) 84084 Fisciano, Italy
2
Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, Piazzale Stefani, 1, 37126 Verona, Italy
3
Unit of Othorinolaringology, Merano Hospital, Via Rossini, 5, 39012 Merano (BZ), Italy
related to tumor location are also feasible and may affect patient well-being [2, 3]. Cancer treatments may alleviate cognitive deficits, but they might produce neurotoxicity (i.e., neurocognitive side effects) [4–6]. The availability of reliable measures of neurocognitive assessment is crucial. Neuropsychological assessment is a performance-
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