There is little uniformity among the measures used to assess neurological
function and behavioral health. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox
initiative seeks to assemble brief, comprehensive assessment tools that will be
useful
to clinicians and researchers in a variety of settings, with a particular
emphasis on measuring outcomes in longitudinal epidemiologic studies and
prevention or intervention trials across the lifespan. Such measures are rarely
included in studies of this type, due in part to the lack of brief,
well-validated instruments. The Toolbox will provide a valuable resource across
NIH and for the scientific community, by ensuring that assessment methods will
be capable of comparison with existing and completed studies. Advances in
psychometric research methodology, including computerized adaptive testing and
virtual reality, combined with traditional performance-based tools, should lead
to
[n2] the
efficient, flexible and responsive assessment of Cognition (such as
learning, memory, executive function, language/lexical retrieval, visuospatial
abilities, attention, speed of processing); Emotion (mood, adaptability,
interpersonal relations, self- regulation); Motor Functioning
(locomotion, non-vestibular balance, dexterity, strength); and Sensation
(vision, hearing, vestibular balance, smell, taste, touch).
The Toolbox will be developed under the leadership of the ENHRI Center for
Outcomes, Research and Education and Northwestern University (including the
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the Feinberg School of Medicine, and the
School of Communication), working with primary collaborators at the University
of Washington, University of Pittsburgh, UCLA, and Kessler Medical
Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation, along with consultants and
field testing partners based at 28 additional academic and hospital based
research centers. The Toolbox initiative commenced on September 30, 2006 and is
structured in two phases, to be completed in 5 years:
Phase I (24 months) Identification of criteria for acceptance of cognitive,
emotional, sensory and motor function domain specific tasks to the behavioral
and neurological research communities.
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Expert Survey of potential criteria
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Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) meeting to select final criteria (Month 4)
Identification of existing psychometric tests and measurement tools
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Focus group interviews with patients
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Interviews with lifespan-approach scientists engaged in large cohort,
pre-clinical and clinical studies
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Identification of initial comprehensive domains and tests (Consensus Meeting
Month 9)
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Development assignments distributed to domain sites
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Selection of initial sets of items from existing instruments and development of
new items for adults and children
Phase II (36 months) testing and refinement of the final toolbox for adults ages
18-85, including evaluation of different modes of administration and of
longitudinal use of the instrument.
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Spanish Translation
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Pre-testing and revision of technician assisted performance measures
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Calibration & Analysis of item bank based Measures
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Field testing of toolbox in clinical populations
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Option to conduct all of the Phase II activities for pediatric populations as
well
For additional information please contact primary investigator Richard C.
Gershon, PhD, Principal Investigator (gershon@northwestern.edu).