| Summary: | Beniam Daniel,1 Liyew Agenagnew,1 Abdulhalik Workicho,2 Mubarek Abera1 1Department of Psychiatry, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 2Department of Epidemiology, Jimma University, Jimma, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Beniam Daniel, Tel +251923289326, Email beni12dani@gmail.comBackground: Cognition is one of the most complex functions of the human brain, and major neurocognitive disorders affect this function causing a wide array of problems in an individual’s life. Screening for major neurocognitive disorders can be helpful in designing and implementing early interventions.Purpose: This study was designed to assess the reliability and validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool to detect major neurocognitive disorders among older people in Ethiopia.Methods: One hundred and sixteen randomly selected older adults in Ethiopia were involved in a cross-sectional study. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for major neurocognitive disorders was used as a gold standard. Data were analyzed using STATA v16 statistical software. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed, and inter-rater, internal consistency reliabilities, content, criterion and construct validities were determined. Statistically significance was declared at a p-value of < 0.05.Results: The study had a 100% response rate. The mean age of the study participants was 69.87 ± 7.8. The inter-rater reliability value was 0.96, and Cronbach’s alpha was 0.79. The optimal cutoff value was ≤ 21, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment has an area under curve value of 0.89. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and positive and negative predictive values of MoCA are 87.18%, 74.03%, 3.35, 0.17, 63%, and 91.9%, respectively. The tool also has good concurrent and construct validities.Conclusion: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool was a reliable and valid tool to detect major neurocognitive disorder. It can be incorporated into the clinical and research practices in developing countries.Keywords: major neuro-cognitive disorder, validity and reliability, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Ethiopia
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