[Repeatability assessment of quantified measurement method in hand drawing skills]

ABSTRACT

Because of high incidence of hand injuries and the need for a quantitative method that provides measures of patient improvement in treatment period a precise and easy-to-apply quantitative procedure is necessary. As a first step in validating of such a method, the intersession repeatability of quantified measures was assessed in this study. Measurement of hand drawing skills by drawing circle shape in two speeds [preferred and maximum] and spiral shape just in a preferred voluntary speed with two repetitions for each subject was assessed in 15 subjects. Digital data was recorded by a Tablet PC using special software with average sampling rate of 120 Hz. The quantified variables computed for circle and spiral drawing tests with preferred speed were reliable [0.55 < ICC < 0.85], so they can be used for drawing quantifications. Results of drawing circles with maximum speed were not reliable [ICC < 0.5]. Repeatability analysis revealed that measures based on drawing circles with maximum speed are not repeatable and cannot be used for process monitoring. This may be due to large variation in providing maximum drawing speed during test time. On the other hand, spiral and circle drawing parameters with preferred speed had a better repeatability and can be used for quantification of hand drawings in researches