Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41429419›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2025

Usability of a Tablet-Based Cognitive Assessment Administered by Medical Assistants in General Practice: Implementation Study.

Philipp Schaper, Alexander Hanke, Stephan Jonas, Leon Nissen, Lara Marie Reimer, Florian Schweizer, Michael Wagner, Kristin Rolke, Carolin Rosendahl, Judith Tillmann and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Philipp SchaperPsychological Aging Research, Department of Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-5960-7921
Alexander HankeDepartment of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-5766-4148
Stephan JonasInstitute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-3687-6165
Leon NissenInstitute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.ORCID 0009-0009-3884-0850
Lara Marie ReimerInstitute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-6546-8531
Florian SchweizerInstitute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.ORCID 0009-0001-2902-5178
Michael WagnerDepartment of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-2589-6440
Kristin RolkeGeneral Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.ORCID 0009-0000-5513-1671
Carolin RosendahlGeneral Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.ORCID 0009-0002-6633-6984
Judith TillmannGeneral Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8142-2015
Klaus WeckbeckerGeneral Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-3094-1771
Jochen René ThyrianGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Greifswald, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-6889-693X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDigital short cognitive tests administered by medical assistants (MAs) in general practitioners' (GPs) practices have great potential for the timely identification of patients with dementia, because they can lead to targeted specialist referrals or to immediate reassurance of patients regarding their perceived concerns. However, integration of this testing approach into clinical practice requires good usability for the test itself, especially for cognitively impaired older adults.

objectiveIn this implementation study, the digital version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Duo was conducted by MAs in general practice. We tested if the interaction with the test is associated with usability problems for the patients and aimed to find additional relevant constructs that should be considered for the potential implementation of such digital tests into clinical practice. We focused the study on subjective success, usability, and workload as well as their association with the result of the cognitive test to assess whether the MoCA Duo can be implemented into general practice.

methodsIn total, 10 GPs took part in the study. Within their practices, 299 GP patients (aged 51-97 years) with cognitive concerns completed the MoCA Duo administered by MAs. Subsequently, patients and MAs completed digital questionnaires regarding the interaction with the app. Usability was measured using the adapted System Usability Scale, and perceived workload using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index. For the perceived workload, we included an assessment of the patient by the MA. Results of the MoCA Duo were supplied to the GPs for their consultation with the patient.

resultsThe results indicated good usability for the MoCA Duo. Self-assessment by the patients indicated that 64% (191/299) could perform in the test to the best of their ability, affected by their MoCA score. We found significant higher usability ratings by patients with better MoCA scores as well as by younger patients. Furthermore, the perceived workload showed overall medium workload. We found significant correlations between the subjective perceived workload of the patients and the assessment by MAs. Self-assessments as well as assessments by the MAs were significantly influenced by the MoCA scores and the age of the participants.

conclusionsThe results indicate good usability of the digital MoCA within the sample, supporting the idea that the resulting scores are adequate to assess cognitive status without dependence on technological affinity. Furthermore, the results highlight the relevance of heterogenous samples for comparable evaluation studies, based on the significant effect of cognitive status and age on usability and workload.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionComputers, HandheldDementiaGeneral PracticeMental Status and Dementia TestsPhysician AssistantsAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleGeneral PractitionersHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesWorkloadcomputerized assessmentdementiadigital assessmentdigital platformmild cognitive impairmentMoCAMontreal Cognitive Assessment

Identifiers

PMID41429419
PMCPMC12770926

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.