The Oxford digital multiple errands test (OxMET): Validation of a simplified computer tablet based multiple errands...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Executive functioning impairments are prevalent after acquired brain injury (ABI).
• Existing screening tools often lack ecological validity or efficiency.
• There is a need for accessible methods to assess executive dysfunction consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Oxford Digital Multiple Errands Test (OxMET), a digital screening tool.
• To establish the validity and reliability of the OxMET for assessing executive functions.
• To provide normative data for the OxMET in a healthy population.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 124 healthy controls and 105 stroke survivors for OxMET assessment.
• Established internal consistency and normative data from healthy controls.
• Assessed convergent/divergent validity, test-retest reliability, and group discriminability in mixed participant subsets.

Main Results:

• OxMET demonstrated very high internal consistency and good test-retest reliability.
• The tool showed good convergent and divergent validity.
• OxMET exhibited high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating stroke survivors from controls.

Conclusions:

• The Oxford Digital Multiple Errands Test (OxMET) is a brief, user-friendly digital screening tool.
• OxMET accurately screens for executive function consequences in a virtual shopping task.
• Initial validation in a chronic stroke cohort supports its clinical utility.