Assessment of prospective memory: A validity study of memory for intentions screening test

Abstract

Aim: The goal of the present study was to validate the Czech version of the Memory for Intentions (Screening) Test (MIST, 2010). We included standardized testing material, translation of administration and scoring, and assessment of normative data for the MIST in the Czech population. Introduction: Prospective memory (PM), i.e., the ability to remember and implement intentions after a delay, is essential as a subsystem of episodic memory for the maintenance of independence and execution of activities of daily living. PM assessment thus plays an important role in the dia gnosis of episodic memory disorders. However, there are currently no standardized and validated PM tools in Czech language. Methods: The Czech version of MIST was administered to 30 healthy persons. Results: The MIST Summary score correlated at a medium level with a range of neuropsychological measures including memory retention, mental flexibility, and resistance to interference (all rho = 0.37– 0.42; all p < 0.05). The reliability of MIST in terms of internal consistency was insufficient when analyzing the eight individual MIST trials (� = 0.50), as was split- half reliability (split- half reliability = 0.56). In contrast, there was a high degree of reliability between six subscales classified by type (delay, cue and mode of response; � = 0.88, split- half = 0.95). Conclusion: The reliability and validity of the Czech version of MIST is comparable to the original English version. The study opens access to standardized PM assessment in clinical populations in the Czech Republic.