Abstract
This paper proposes an electronic prototype of the Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT), which is normally used to test the presence of hand dexterity. The prototype imitates the geometrical dimensions of an on-the-market GPT device, but it is electronic, not manual like the one available now for users. The suggested electronic GPT device makes automated time calculation between placing the first and the last peg in their designated locations, instead of manually observing a stopwatch normally used during the GPT. The electronic GPT prototype consists of a fabricated wooden box, electronics (switches and microcontroller), and liquid crystal display (LCD). A set of 40 normal volunteers, 20 females and 20 males, tested the designed prototype. A set of six volunteers with chronic medical conditions also participated in evaluating the proposed model. The results on normal volunteers showed that the proposed electronic GPT device yielded time calculations that match the population mean value of similar calculations by the GPT device. The one-sample t-test showed no significant difference in calculations between the new electronic GPT and the manual GPT device. The p-value was much higher than 0.05, indicating the possible use of the suggested electronic GPT device.
Highlights
There are many validated tests to measure hand dexterity for patients with impaired hand function
There are the Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT), Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT), and Nine Holes Peg Test (NHPT) that were manufactured by Lafayette Instrument Company [1]
To assess the validation of the prototype, the measurements were compared with the population mean values stipulated by the manufacturer of the manual GPT device [1,2], which are reported in Appendix A
Summary
There are many validated tests to measure hand dexterity for patients with impaired hand function. Each testing tool has a board with holes on it, a pegs tray, and a certain number of pegs. The common idea of these tests is placing a certain number of pegs in a set of holes, which are arranged differently on a board, as fast as a tested person can. The hands’ dexterity is assessed by recording the reaction time in placing pegs on the holes at the pegs board. In an early study in 1995, a set of normal elderly people from 60 to 89 years old participated in evaluating the GPT, yielding high reliability in monitoring the hands’ dexterity for normal elderly people [3]. The Grooved Pegboard Test was used to assess the fine dexterity after virtual reality (VR) immersion and cyber-sickness for 89 participants aged between 19 and 36 years [8]. The GPT was used to assess the hand dexterity for various diseases [9,10,11,12]
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