Subjective and Objective Day-to-Day Performance Measures of People with Essential Tremor

TL;DR

This study explores how people with essential tremor experience daily challenges and uses both self-reports and sensor data to understand their functional abilities.

Contribution

The study introduces a new method combining subjective self-reports and objective sensor measurements to assess daily performance in essential tremor.

Findings

Participants reported difficulties with writing, threading a needle, and using digital devices.

Common modifications included using two hands or hand support during tasks.

No significant correlation was found between self-reported disability scores and objective cup-drinking measurements.

Abstract

This paper aims to map the daily functional characteristics of people diagnosed with essential tremor (ET) based on their subjective self-reports. In addition, we provide objective measurements of a cup-drinking task. This study involved 20 participants diagnosed with ET who completed the Columbia University Assessment of Disability in Essential Tremor (CADET) questionnaire that included five additional tasks related to digital equipment operation we wrote. Participants also described task-performance modifications they implemented. To create objective personal performance profiles, they performed a cup-drinking task while being monitored using a sensor measurement system. The CADET’s subjective self-report results indicate that the most prevalent tasks participants reported as having difficulty with or requiring modifications were writing, threading a needle, carrying a cup, using a spoon, pouring, and taking a photo or video on a mobile phone. Analysis of participants’ modifications revealed that holding the object with two hands or with one hand supporting the other were the most prevalent types. No significant correlation was found between the CADET total scores and the cup drinking objective measures. Capturing patients’ perspectives on their functional disability, alongside objective performance measures, is envisioned to contribute to the development of custom-tailored interventions aligned with individual profiles, i.e., patient-based/smart healthcare.

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