Fine motor skills assessment limitations in selected standardized tests - perspective of occupational therapists
Abstract
Introduction: The Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT), Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) and Box and Block Test (BBT) represent the standardized tests that occupational therapists often use in practice to objectively assess upper limb fine motor skills of people with various types of health conditions. However, until October 2021, a Czech version of the manuals containing the verbal instructions necessary for the standardized procedure was not available for occupational therapists.
Aim: The aim of this study was to find out how standardized NHPT, PPT and BBT tests were performed by occupational therapists in the Czech Republic at the time of the survey. Methods: Therefore, in March and April 2021, an electronic questionnaire was spread among Czech occupational therapists.
It was completed by a total of 121 respondents, but 34 responses were excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria. Results: Based on the analysis of responses from 87 Czech occupational therapists, it was confirmed that occupational therapists in the Czech Republic differed significantly in the way of performing NHPT, PPT and BBT, although these are standardized tests.
The main differences between the occupational therapists were in the way of giving instructions to the tested persons to perform the mentioned standardized tests. It was found that some occupational therapists, despite the rules for using these tests, gave the tested persons instructions in their own words, while others neglected to demonstrate the required task.
Several occupational therapists agreed that they did not have the opportunity to look at the manuals at the workplace, or did not read the manual at all, others stated that they had different versions of the manuals available in the Czech and English at the workplace. The reason for the different way of performing NHPT, PPT and BBT could be mainly the unavailability of the manuals in the Czech language.
Conclusion: Since October 2021, occupational therapists from the Czech Republic have well-edited Czech extended versions of the manuals for NHPT, PPT and BBT available for free. Finally, they can perform standardized assessments of upper limbs fine motor skills even in research studies and be very beneficial members of research teams.