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Original scientific article

RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE DIGITAL VERSION OF THE MODIFIED STANDARDIZED NINE HOLE PEG TEST WITH AN AUTOTIMER

By
D. Mythili Orcid logo ,
D. Mythili

Affiliated to The Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University India

K. Narayanasamy Orcid logo ,
K. Narayanasamy

Dr MGR Medical University India

V. Balchandar Orcid logo ,
V. Balchandar

Affiliated to The Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University India

K. Kotteeswaran Orcid logo ,
K. Kotteeswaran

Saveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences India

S. Kalpana Orcid logo
S. Kalpana

The Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University India

Abstract

Objective: Manual dexterity is the capacity to move the fingers and hands in a coordinated way to grasp and manipulate things. It depends on the interaction of musculoskeletal and neurological systems to make precise and intentional motions. The study's main goal is to compare the traditional Nine Hole Peg Test with a stopwatch with the dmS-NHPT with an autotimer in terms of concurrent validity, inter-rater reliability, and test-retest reliability. Methodology: Eighty healthy adults were included and randomized into two groups. Group A was tested by Evaluator I with the dmS-NHPT, with an autotimer (digital version of the modified standardized Nine Hole Peg Test), and then with the tNHPT with a stopwatch (traditional Nine Hole Peg Test) on the same day. Group B was tested by Evaluator II. Ten days after the first testing, the second testing is done with the evaluators being reversed. Results: The mean age of participants was 36.14 ± 1.027 years. Concurrent validity between tNHPT and dmS-NHPT with an autotimer was strong by Pearson correlation (r = 0.9603, p < 0.05). The Bland-Altman LoA are used to analyze the pairs of observations between the tNHPT and dmS-NHPT with an autotimer. A scatter plot is used to display the variability between these pairs, and the mean difference is 0.82 seconds. Test-retest reliability after 10 days shows significant correlation with a coefficient of ICC = 0.983 (p = 3.3; < 0.05), and inter-rater reliability was significant with ICC = 0.987 (p = 3.16; < 0.05). Novelty: The digital auto timer and battery are incorporated within the pegboard, with the detector sensor placed within the hole of the board. The material of the pegboard is made of PLA, a bioplastic that is lightweight, which gives tactile feedback and makes gripping of the pegs easier for the subjects. The pegs are colored (visual feedback). The scores are displayed immediately at the end of placing the last peg into the hole (knowledge of results and feedback). Conclusion: The dmS-NHPT with an autotimer’s relative reliability and measurement errors are improved by spatial strategy, thereby increasing the degrees of freedom by biofeedback techniques. A valid tool to measure dexterity for healthy individuals and also patients with neurological disorders.

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