Article

PURPOSE: To develop a Tablet-based Symbol Digit Modalities Test (T-SDMT) and to
examine the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the T-SDMT in
patients with stroke.
METHODS: The study had two phases. In the first phase, six
experts, nine college students and five outpatients participated in the
development and testing of the T-SDMT. In the second phase,
52 outpatients were
evaluated twice (2 weeks apart) with the T-SDMT and SDMT to examine the
test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the
T-SDMT. RESULTS: The
T-SDMT was developed via expert input and college student/patient feedback.
Regarding test-retest reliability, the practise effects of the T-SDMT and SDMT
were both trivial (d=0.12) but significant (p<==0.015). The improvement in the
T-SDMT (4.7%) was smaller than that in the SDMT (5.6%). The minimal detectable
changes (MDC%) of the T-SDMT and SDMT were 6.7 (22.8%) and 10.3 (32.8%),
respectively. The T-SDMT and SDMT were highly correlated with each other at the
two time points (Pearson's r=0.90-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: The T-SDMT demonstrated
good concurrent validity with the SDMT. Because the T-SDMT had a smaller practise
effect and less random measurement error (superior test-retest reliability), it
is recommended over the SDMT for assessing information processing speed in
patients with stroke. Implications for Rehabilitation The Symbol Digit Modalities
Test (SDMT), a common measure of information processing speed, showed a
substantial practise effect and considerable random measurement error in patients
with stroke. The Tablet-based SDMT (T-SDMT) has been developed to reduce the
practise effect and random measurement error of the SDMT in patients with stroke.
The T-SDMT had smaller practise effect and random measurement error than the
SDMT, which can provide more reliable assessments of information processing
speed.

Langue : ANGLAIS