The psychometric rigor of unsupervised, smartphone-based assessments and factors that impact remote protocol engagement is critical to evaluate prior to the use of such methods in clinical contexts. We evaluated the validity of a high-frequency, smartphone-based cognitive assessment protocol, including examining convergence and divergence with standard cognitive tests, and investigating factors that may impact adherence and performance (i.e., time of day and anticipated receipt of feedback vs. no feedback).

Cognitively unimpaired participants (N = 120, Mage = 68.8, 68.3% female, 87% White, Meducation = 16.5 years) completed 8 consecutive days of the Mobile Monitoring of Cognitive Change (M2C2), a mobile app-based testing platform, with brief morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. Tasks included measures of working memory, processing speed, and episodic memory. Traditional neuropsychological assessments included measures from the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite battery.

Findings showed overall high compliance (89.3%) across M2C2 sessions. Average compliance by time of day ranged from 90.2% for morning sessions, to 77.9% for afternoon sessions, and 84.4% for evening sessions. There was evidence of faster reaction time and among participants who expected to receive performance feedback. We observed excellent convergent and divergent validity in our comparison of M2C2 tasks and traditional neuropsychological assessments.

This study supports the validity and reliability of self-administered, high-frequency cognitive assessment via smartphones in older adults. Insights into factors affecting adherence, performance, and protocol implementation are discussed.

Members of many racial and ethnic population subgroups are underrepresented in clinical trials and research. We present perspectives on barriers and facilitators to study participation gathered from Hispanic participants in a population-based genetic screening study.

Seven focus groups (five in English and two in Spanish) were conducted with self-identified Hispanic participants of the Healthy Oregon Project (HOP), a large population-based cohort of adults residing in Oregon. HOP study participants complete surveys about cancer and chronic disease risks with the option to donate a saliva sample for no-cost genetic risk screening for inherited disorders. HOP invited Hispanic participants via email to join a focus group about their experiences. Focus groups, generally lasting 60–90 minutes, occurred in person and virtually. Notes were coded and content-analyzed.

49 Hispanic adults participated in the focus groups (37 women; 9 men; 3 non-binary people). Identified facilitators for HOP study participation were trust in the academic medical center leading the study, having a family member who was impacted by cancer, and receiving free genetic screening. Identified barriers were difficulty completing the family history survey, lack of understanding or familiarity with research, immigration status, and navigating technology challenges. Recommendations to improve recruitment of Hispanic populations included promoting the study at community events, clinics, or schools, simplifying the consenting process and providing patient-focused videos to demonstrate study tasks, providing real-time sample tracking, and offering monetary incentives.

Our findings can inform strategies for bolstering recruitment of Hispanic adults in biomedical research studies.