The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) as a reliable screening tool for dementia when administered via videoconferencing in elderly post-acute hospital patients

Lillian Wong, Melinda Martin-Khan, Jeff Rowland, Paul Varghese, Leonard C Gray

The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) is a six-domain screening tool for dementia. We measured the practicality and reliability of administering the RUDAS in a telemedicine setting. Inpatients were recruited from a Geriatric and Rehabilitation Unit. Each patient was administered the RUDAS both face-to-face (FTF) and via videoconferencing (VC). The assessment format (FTF or VC) and the allocation of doctor (Doctor 1 or Doctor 2) to format were randomized. Scores from each assessment format were compared. The outcome of no difference was decided based on a difference in mean of no more than ± one point. Percentage agreement (agreement being ±2 points) was calculated on individual test scores. Forty-two patients (average age 75 years) completed the two assessments. Their mean Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was 24.7 (range 10-30). The mean RUDAS score for both FTF and VC assessment was 24.9 (difference between the means 0.04), i.e. there was no significant difference. The results suggest that the RUDAS can be reliably administered via VC in post acute patients as an alternative to FTF administration.