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. 2021 Oct 20:acab080. doi: 10.1093/arclin/acab080

Table 6.

Recommendations summary

Recommendations Class
Population TeleNP is useful for adult patients (18–90 years old) with MCI, mild to moderate dementia or cognitively healthy individuals. B
TeleNP should not be applied for patients with visual or auditory deficits, acute confusional states, or severe communication difficulties. B
TeleNP is not recommended for patients with severe dementia. F
Informed consent Before providing psychological services of any kind, patients must give and sign an informed consent. F
Consent must be obtained within the framework of the legal provisions enforced by each country.
Recorded verbal informed consent or consent through electronic signature can be obtained, but its validity depends on local laws.
For digital consent, the use of a system which guarantees information access, user identity and security is recommended.
The REDCap platform is recommended due to its availability, open access and security.
Consent should include unique concerns arising from the teleNP assessment framework: scope of the intervention, confidentiality, use of personal data, whether the interview will be recorded and screenshot management.
It should be made clear that the use of teleNP may carry additional risks to privacy and confidentiality.
It should be clarified that most of the conclusions are based on face-to-face assessments, which limits conclusions and recommendations of the teleassessment.
Strategies for conducting a teleNP assessment Before the assessment: F
Check patient profile for suitability for a teleNP assessment.
Ensure that the patient has adequate equipment and software for a teleNP.
Secure a private and silent environment.
Clarify that only the patient and the on-site facilitator, if required, should be present in the room.
Send and receive signed informed consent.
During the assessment: F
Confirm the patient’s identity and establish an emergency plan in case the connection is interrupted.
Ensure that the patient has the necessary materials for the assessment.
Keep a written copy of all protocol material.
Use the “share screen” function to show stimuli.
Control when stimuli must be out of patient sight.
Obtain screenshots only when needed to capture and record evidence of tasks that require the patient to write or draw.
Presence of facilitator A facilitator’s presence is not always required for proper test administration. B
A facilitator’s presence is recommended when administering tests with a motor response. B
On-site facilitators may be especially relevant for patients with low education and low familiarity with technology. F
Technological requirements A broadband connection is recommended to reduce the likelihood of sound or image disruption or failure. B
Patients must use a screen that is at least 13″ in size, which excludes smartphones. F
Selection of tests and use of normative data The use of verbally dependent tasks is recommended. B
The use of tests with motor responses requires on-site support/assistance. B
Use of normative data For selected studies (Table 5), normative data from face-to-face tests may be used. B