Selection of culture fair cognitive tools for clinical dementia screening

Project Description

This project addresses a critical question: How can cognitive assessment tools be made culturally fair and effective for diagnosing memory-related issues in ethnically diverse populations? The broader mental health challenge is ensuring culturally appropriate mental health assessments in dementia among diverse populations, particularly in underserved communities.

Research in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland has highlighted significant healthcare inequalities in memory clinic assessments for ethnic seniors, largely due to the lack of culturally appropriate cognitive tools. Existing cognitive tools often fail to account for language, educational, and cultural differences, leading to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis, and preventing seniors from receiving adequate care.

To address this, the project consists of three key work streams:

1. Validating Culture-Fair Cognitive Tools: Testing tools like the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS), the European Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB), and WHO’s Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). These tools will be evaluated for their effectiveness in busy clinical settings and their ability to provide accurate diagnoses across diverse populations.

2. Co-creating New Assessment Instruments: Work with ethnic communities to design and validate new tools, focusing on linguistic diversity, cultural norms, and educational backgrounds, ensuring they are scientifically valid and culturally sensitive.

3. Exploring Feasibility and Acceptability: Qualitative research will assess the practicality, cost, and willingness of clinical settings to adopt these tools.

This project aims to reduce health disparities, improve patient care, and create a model for culturally inclusive healthcare tools.