Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers created a tablet-based application that can reduce the amount of time it takes providers to test the cognitive function of individuals with multiple sclerosis.
In the study, published in the International Journal of MS Care, researchers found that the app, called iCAMS, produced highly accurate results and reduced test time from about 23 minutes to 14 minutes, when compared to a standard, paper-based assessment tool.
ICAMS was modeled off an international cognitive assessment tool for MS patients called the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis. BICAMS comprises three subtests: measuring the brain's processing speed, ability to learn verbal information and ability to learn visual information. ICAMS uses BICAMS same assessment method and criteria but moves it to a digital tablet format.
The study participants comprised 100 adults, between ages 18 and 79, who had a physician-confirmed MS diagnosis from the University of Washington Medicine Multiple Sclerosis Center in Seattle. For the study, research assistants administered paper and iPad tests to the participants. Half of the sessions were completed with a paper test and the other half was done with the iCAMS tablet test.
Results of the study showed that when comparing test scores of the paper and digital methods for each participant, results were the same 93 percent of the time. Administration and scoring time for the app-based test was 40 percent shorter than the paper version. Researchers noted that the tests provided in the tablet app are not identical to the paper version.
Study authors concluded that while the digital app-based test showed to save time and was easier to administer, it also supports efficiency of sharing patient data through EHRs because it eliminates the need for paper-based records.