Furthermore, there is scarce evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of DTH-NP carried out through voice phone calls only: Caze et al. connection speed, audio-video interruptions,), a difficult extraction of non-verbal cues, a feeling of distance that may hinder the construction of a therapeutic alliance. presence of other people, sounds and animals), the management of technical problems (e.g. Even though numerous guidelines on DTH-NP have been published, , and there is evidence of good feasibility and acceptability of DTH-NP, there are still multiple issues to consider when approaching this practice, especially with elderly populations: limited access to technology, poor familiarity with it (e.g., knowledge of videoconference platforms, difficulties in setting up the equipment), the non-controlled environment during the in-home evaluation (e.g.
![moca test scoring italiano moca test scoring italiano](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/b2/8c/f8b28c6f2d73de54111d459fa08dd246.png)
However, the pandemic has forced what has been called “direct-to-home-neuropsychology (DTH-NP)”, where the neuropsychologist calls or video calls patients at their home, hence without direct contact with them. To date, there is evidence of acceptability, feasibility, and reliability of assisted TNP, in which a neuropsychologist at the subjects’ home or in a satellite clinic arranges and controls the setting. Hence, this practice has pivotal importance both in dementia care and research contexts. Also in a non-pandemic scenario, TNP gives the advantage of reaching older subjects with mobility or transportation limitations. Teleneuropsychology (TNP), including voice phone calls or videoconferencing, has recently taken hold because of the need of protecting older people from unnecessary risk exposure to Sars-Cov-2 virus. The results of the comparability analysis will offer the first evidence in the Italian context on which neuropsychological tests can be reliably delivered DTH, by phone call or videoconference. The inclusion of both phone-call and videoconference DTH neuropsychological assessment will give the opportunity to evaluate the feasibility of DTH-NP also in older adults with low digital skills. Discussion and Conclusion: This study protocol aims at describing the procedures allowing a more reliable implementation of DTH-NP in the Italian clinical and research contexts. Finally, the DTH-face-to-face comparability will be evaluated as good reliability of a DTH neuropsychological assessment and agreement between scores obtained in the two modalities.
![moca test scoring italiano moca test scoring italiano](https://pl.mdcdn.cz/media/image_pdf/517758a5af0840a353c3520e86f20a12.jpeg)
Then, the responses to an acceptability questionnaire will be compared between the two administration modalities. Recruitment rate will be first evaluated. Methods: Fifty-eight older adults (65 - 85 years) were recruited among donors of the Abbiategrasso Brain Bank and will undergo both a face-to-face and a DTH neuropsychological assessment in a counterbalanced cross-over design (Group 1: remote session first Group 2: face-to-face session first). Aims: Here we present a study protocol aimed at assessing: 1) the recruitment rate in a study on DTH neuropsychological assessment through voice calls or videoconference, 2) the feasibility and acceptability of a DTH neuropsychological assessment, 3) the comparability between DTH and face-to-face neuropsychological assessments. However, it remains unclear how elderly populations in Italy welcome this practice, in particular when carried out “direct-to-home” (DTH neuropsychology-DTH-NP), hence without assistance in setting up, i.e., the videoconference, and which tests validated in Italian populations show good comparability between remote (either by voice phone call or videoconference) and face-to-face administration. Previous studies on the feasibility, acceptability and reliability of TNP provide promising indications. Also in a non-pandemic scenario, TNP gives the advantage of reaching older subjects, which often have mobility or transportation limitations.
![moca test scoring italiano moca test scoring italiano](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b0/85/fa/b085fa5b272ef4781bab86943e45e6ef.png)
![moca test scoring italiano moca test scoring italiano](https://i1.wp.com/slideplayer.com/slide/13039168/79/images/90/MoCA+Scoring:+Sam.jpg)
Background: The Sars-Cov-2 pandemic has accelerated the spreading of telemedicine, including TeleNeuroPsychology (TNP).