eNeurologicalSci (Jun 2016)

Socio-cultural adaptation and standardization of Dubois' five words testing in a population of normal subject in Mali, West Africa

  • Cheick O. Guinto,
  • Toumany Coulibaly,
  • Zeinab Koné,
  • Souleymane Coulibaly,
  • Boubacar Maiga,
  • Kekouta Dembélé,
  • Lassana Cissé,
  • Mamadou Konaté,
  • Thomas Coulibaly,
  • Adama S. Sissoko,
  • Mamadou Karambé,
  • Barrington Burnett,
  • Guida Landouré,
  • Moussa Traoré

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2016.02.002
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. C
pp. 60 – 63

Abstract

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Introduction: Dubois' five words testing (5WT) is a verbal memory test that depends on many parameters. The aim of this study is to adapt Dubois' 5WT to the Malian socio-cultural conditions to (i) determine performances of normal subjects to the 5WT and (ii) provide reference scores of the 5WT. Methods: A sample of 276 normal subjects aged ≥50 years (154 males and 122 females; 144 literates and 132 illiterates) were enrolled from February 2008 to January 2009. Subjects with a history of symptoms likely to modify cognitive functions and those who were found disabled under Lawton's four simplified item test were excluded. Results: The learning score in illiterates was 1.51 in Dubois' 5WT and 4.90 in the modified 5WT. The mean value of the modified 5WT total score was 9.71. Majority (90.22%) of the subjects scored the maximum (10). The modified 5WT reduced with both the age (p < 0.006) and education level (p < 0.04). Conclusion: Our results show that Dubois' 5WT is influenced by culture and the socio-educative level in French. Its adaptation to the socio-cultural context could prove useful and efficient in countries with a low literacy rate and a diverse cultural background.

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