title: Development of a Tablet-based symbol digit modalities test for reliably assessing information processing speed in patients with stroke.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  
  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).
  
  
  
  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.
authors: a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Chi Mei Medical Center , Tainan , Taiwan ;
authors: Li-Chen
authors: LC
authors: Tung
authors: b School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University , Taipei , Taiwan ;
authors: Wan-Hui
authors: WH
authors: Yu
authors: b School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University , Taipei , Taiwan ;
authors: Gong-Hong
authors: GH
authors: Lin
authors: c Department of Occupational Therapy , I-Shou University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan ;
authors: Tzu-Ying
authors: TY
authors: Yu
authors: b School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University , Taipei , Taiwan ;|d Department of Psychiatry , National Taiwan University Hospital , Taipei , Taiwan ;
authors: Chien-Te
authors: CT
authors: Wu
authors: e Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan ;
authors: Chia-Yin
authors: CY
authors: Tsai
authors: a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Chi Mei Medical Center , Tainan , Taiwan ;|f Department of Recreation and Health Care Management , Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy , Tainan , Taiwan ;
authors: Willy
authors: W
authors: Chou
authors: g School of Occupational Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung , Taiwan ;|h Occupational Therapy Room, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital , Taichung , Taiwan ;
authors: Mei-Hsiang
authors: MH
authors: Chen
authors: b School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University , Taipei , Taiwan ;|i Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , National Taiwan University Hospital , Taipei , Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Lin
authors: CL
authors: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Information processing speed; Symbol Digit Modalities Test; practise effect; random measurement error; stroke