| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: Validation of the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test - revised for use with Spanish speakers employing HIV-infected sample. | | Authors: Cherner M, Suarez P, Lazzaretto D, Rivera Mindt M, Marcotte T, Grant I, Heaton R, and the HNRC Group | | Year: 2007 | | Publication: Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology | | Volume: 22 Issue: 7 Pages: 853-854 | | Abstract:To validate use of the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) in Spanish speakers by deter-
mining its ability to detect HIV-associated deficits. Method: Raw scores and rates of impaired performances based
on age, gender, and education adjusted T-scores were compared in HIV+ and HIV
− individuals who took the BVMT-R with instructions in their preferred language. Participants were 45 Spanish
speaking (SS) HIV+, 45 SS healthy HIV −, 45 English-speaking (ES) HIV+, and 45 ES HIV
− men and women. The HIV+ groups had comparable health status.
All groups were demographically similar. HIV effect sizes were computed for SS and ES separately. Results: HIV
effect was comparable between SS and ES. There were no language effects. On Total Recall, the HIV effect size for
SS was −0.70 (95% CI: −1.13, −0.28) and −0.67 (CI: −1.09, −0.24) for ES. On Delayed Recall, HIV effect size for
SS = −0.76 was (CI: −1.19, −0.33) and −0.76 (CI: −1.19, −0.33) for ES. Application of population-specific norms
with demographic corrections demonstrate comparable rates of impaired performances among SS and ES: for HIV+:
SS = 29%, ES = 31%; for HIV
−: SS = 13%, ES = 16%. Conclusions: Lack of language effect and comparability in the
magnitude of the HIV effect suggest that BVMT-R administration and demographically adjusted norms for Spanish
speakers are equivalent to the English in detecting HIV-associated learning and memory problems. Results provide
initial validity for the Spanish language administration and norms. |
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