Test-Retest Reliability of Computerized Concussion Assessment Programs (Original Research) (Report‪)‬

Over the past 15 years, sport concussion has been identified as a substantial clinical concern for physicians and allied health professionals. Many health care professionals working in athletic settings are required to diagnose and manage the 1.6 to 3.8 million sport-related concussions occurring in the United States annually. (1) Team or primary care physicians have the ultimate responsibility for injury diagnosis and return-to-play decisions, although athletic trainers and neuropsychologists regularly function as part of a multidisciplinary team caring for athletes with concussions. Diagnostic and management decisions are based on many factors, including symptom presentation, physical examinations, and specialized tests designed to detect deficits resulting from concussive injuries. Consequently, physicians and other health care professionals should be familiar with contemporary instruments used to supplement traditional clinical examinations. For some time, neurocognitive tests have been used in clinical decision making after concussion. In the past, clinicians have administered these tests, (2-5) but more recently, tests delivered through a computer platform have been developed and have been made available for use. (6-11) The advantages of the computer assessments are believed to include ease of administration, rapid scoring, and increased test-retest reliability secondary to standardized administration and scoring. (12) In addition, computerized test batteries are accessible to a wide range of clinicians, including athletic trainers. Although computer-based assessments potentially offer a number of advantages over traditional testing methods, several psychometric issues must be evaluated in order to assess their clinical utility.