| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Poster | | Title: Metacognition of everyday multitasking among HIV+ adults. | | Authors: Blackstone K, Scott JC, Fazelli P, Woods SP, Moore DJ, and the HNRP Group | | Date: 02-12-2014 | | Abstract:Objective: Everyday multitasking (MT) is an ecologically relevant ability that is impaired in HIV disease. Limited awareness of MT impairments (metacognition) in HIV secondary to frontal systems dysfunction may contribute to errors in complex everyday tasks. This study asssessed the effects of working memory (WM) and HIV infection on metacognition (MC) of everyday MT.
Participants and Methods: Eighty HIV+ and 36 HIV- older (≥50 yrs) participants completed a performance based MT test (Scott et al., 2011), which simultaneously assesses four everyday skills (e.g., medication and financial management), alongside a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Participants were also queried regarding their MC of their MT performance, which included MC knowledge (self and task knowledge) and online awareness (task appraisal, self monitoring, and self evaluation).
Results: Linear regression was used to examine the impact of HIV status, WM, and their interaction on each of the MC domains. Although no interactions emerged, HIV was independently associated with better task knowledge, lower self knowledge and task appraisal, and more accurate self evaluation of MT; conversely, better WM was associated with more accurate global MC, self and task knowledge, task appraisal, and self evaluation abilities. Within the HIV+ group, more accurate global MC (ρ=.40), specifically MC knowledge (ρ=.66), was associated with better MT performance.
Conclusions: HIV infection and WM independently impact awareness of everyday multitasking abilities. Despite superior task familiarity (knowledge), HIV subjects had poorer MT planning and lower self efficacy, which was predictive of impairment in actual everyday MT performance. Interventions targeting planning, self efficacy, and WM abilities, may therefore be useful for improving MC among older HIV+ adults. |
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