Assessing Chinese adults' memory abilities : validation of the Chinese version of the rivermead behavioral memory test

Abstract

The Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test-Chinese version (RBMT-CV) was developed in response to the need for cognitive assessment of persons with stroke in Hong Kong and China at large. The present study examined the validity and reliability of the RBMT-CV in a group of participants with stroke (n = 86). The results showed good face validity of assessing everyday memory problem, high inter-rater reliability and correlations between scores of different parallel versions. High value of Cronbach's alpha (p = 0.859) demonstrated excellent internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was high (t = -3.4, p = 0.002). The concurrent validity of RBMT-CV, through correlation with its scores with that of the Chinese version of Mini Mental Status Examination, was well established (rho = 0.86, p = 0.000). Predictive validity of RBMT-CV was demonstrated by Spearman's rho (rho = 0.415, p = 0.012) through follow-up study of stroke patients, and correlation of memory function with their functional status, as measured by modified Barthel Index (MBI).