The phrase: "no ifs, ands, or buts" and cognitive testing. Lessons from an Asian-American community

Hawaii Med J. 2002 Apr;61(4):72-4.

Abstract

This study assessed the clinical utility of repeating the phrase "No ifs, ands, or buts" for cognitive testing in Hawaii. 242 subjects were screened; 25 (10%) had cognitive impairment. 68% of all subjects were unable to say the phrase "No ifs, ands, or buts" (83% of cognitively impaired and 67% of cognitively intact, p = 0.122). Specificity for cognitive impairment was poor.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Asian*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / ethnology
  • Culture*
  • Dementia / diagnosis*
  • Dementia / ethnology
  • Female
  • Hawaii / ethnology
  • Humans
  • Language*
  • Male
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sensitivity and Specificity