Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Date Submitted: Nov 28, 2023
Date Accepted: Apr 26, 2024
Clinical Utility and Usability of the digital Box and Block Test: Mixed Methods Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
The Box and Block Test is a clinical tool used to measure hand dexterity. It serves as an assessment for tracking disease progression or the success of therapy, often benefiting elderly individuals and those with neurological conditions. We have developed and validated a prototype that digitizes this test – the digital Box and Block Test (dBBT).
Objective:
To investigate the clinical utility and usability of the newly developed dBBT, and to discover suggestions for future improvements.
Methods:
Four occupational therapists and 27 healthy subjects participated in our study. We assessed dBBT usage through observations, followed by participants completing the System Usability Scale (SUS). Subsequently, we conducted a focus group to evaluate their user experiences. Qualitative content analysis was applied to all interview transcripts, and we integrated and analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data.
Results:
Overall, the clinical utility of the dBBT received a rating comparable to the original BBT. In the subcategories ‘acceptance’ and ‘time required for evaluation’, the dBBT was rated better than the original BBT. In the other 15 subcategories, the dBBT was rated as good as the original BBT. Usability analysis found that dBBT has “excellent” usability. dBBT achieved a mean (SD) SUS usability sore of 83.0 (10.3). A number of suggested changes to the system were made. Participants also indicated that incorporating the system into professional practice could enhance the profession's image and support the professionalism of occupational therapy.
Conclusions:
The study demonstrated an overall positive evaluation in clinical utility and usability of dBBT. Valuable insights were gathered for future system iterations. These pioneering results highlight the potential of digitizing hand dexterity assessments. Clinical Trial: N/A
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