ABSTRACT
This chapter is a comprehensive reference manual providing information on the Hopkins Competency Assessment Test (HCAT), which is an objective, clinician-administered test designed to provide a quantitative assessment of a patient’s clinical competency for the specific purposes of making medical treatment decisions and writing advance directives. The HCAT comprises a short essay that describes informed consent and enduring power of attorney. The HCAT is not without its critics, however, and concern has been raised over its focus on comprehension and its neglect of reasoning ability, an integral feature of competency. A brief history of the instrument's development is provided, along with a description of item content and administration/scoring procedures. Psychometric properties are reviewed and a critical commentary is provided. Key references are cited and in most cases the actual scale is included, giving the reader easy access to the instrument.
