Patient reported feasibility and acceptance of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) screening pre- and postoperatively in brain tumour patients

Abstract Background Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) represents a short screening tool for neuropsychological deficits. The study’s aim was to test feasibility and acceptance of MoCA in patients with brain tumours perioperatively. Methods Patients with supratentorial located brain tumours were assessed preoperatively (t1, day −1) and postoperatively (t2, day 3–5) using EORTC-QLQ-C30 + BN20, Distress Thermometer (DT) and the MoCA test (different versions). Feasibility was evaluated by a feedback form and patients were asked about perceived discomfort, overstraining or complexity of MoCA. Results of MoCA were correlated with clinical factors. Results 63 patients participated, 19 were male. Mean age was 56 years. Mean completion time of MoCA was 11 min (both t1 and t2). At t1, in 27% “moderate or major difficulties” occurred during MoCA assessment vs. 41% at t2. Most of the patients (t1, 93% vs. t2, 86%) negated to be overstrained by MoCA. Better “physical function” according to EORTC-QLQ-C30 (p = 0.041, Pearson = 0.321) and higher KPS (p = 0.012, Pearson = 0.578) correlated to higher MoCA scores. Higher distress at t2 was found to be correlated with a stronger deterioration of MoCA at t2 vs. t1 (p = 0.03, Spearman-Rho = .695). Conclusion The MoCA test was well accepted by the patients and implementable in clinical routine. Further investigations evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of the test in brain tumour patients are required.