A scoping review of prospective memory self-report and informant-report assessment tools

Background and aims: Self-report and informant-report prospective memory (PM) questionnaires are commonly used to assess subjective perceptions of the frequency and importance of PM failures. However, the extent to which responses on these subjective PM questionnaires reflect performance on PM task is unclear, as is the validity of these questionnaires for detecting PM impairments and monitoring intervention outcomes. We aimed to review the use of self-report and informant-report PM questionnaires as assessment tools in research and clinical settings.
Method: A scoping review methodology was used to search for studies published up to December 2017 that used self or informant versions of the Prospective Memory Questionnaire (PMQ), Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ), Comprehensive Assessment of PM (CAPM), and Brief Assessment of PM (BAPM). Studies were identified through database searches and hand searching reference lists.
Results: Self-report PM questionnaires were used in 273 studies, whilst informant-versions were used in nine studies. In these studies, self- and informant-report PM questionnaires had weak- to moderate strength relationships with performance-based PM measures. Some evidence of self-report and informant-report PM questionnaires being able to detect PM impairments and monitor interventions was found in the limited studies available.
Conclusions: The findings suggested that the weak relationships between self- and informant-report PM measures and performance-based PM measures may be attributed to methodological differences across studies and memory self-awareness issues. It is recommended that these subjective PM questionnaires are used alongside performance-based measures to provide a comprehensive assessment of individuals’ PM capabilities and concerns.