Remotely Assessing Motor Function and Activity of the Upper Extremity After Stroke: A Systematic Review of Validity and Clinical Utility of Tele-Assessments

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to identify currently available tele-assessments for motor impairments of the upper extremity in adults after a stroke and to assess their psychometric properties and clinical utility.

Data sources: We searched for studies describing the psychometric properties of tele-assessments for the motor function of the upper extremity. A systematic search was conducted in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline via OVID, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Xplore from inception until 30 April 2024.

Review methods: The quality assessment for the included studies and the rating of the psychometric properties were performed using the COSMIN Risk of Bias Checklist for systematic reviews of patient-reported outcome measures.

Results: A total of 12 studies (N = 3912) describing 11 tele-assessments met the predefined inclusion criteria. The included assessments were heterogeneous in terms of quality and psychometric properties and risk of bias. None of the tele-assessments currently meets the criteria of clinical utility to be recommended for clinical practice without restriction.

Conclusion: The quality and clinical utility of tele-assessments varied widely, suggesting a cautious consideration for immediate clinical practice application. There is potential for tele-assessments in clinical practice, but the clinical benefits need to be improved by simplifying the complexity of tele-assessments.

Registration number: CRD42022335035.

Keywords: Tele-assessment; motor function; review; stroke.

Figure 1.

Preferred reporting items for systematic and meta-analysis (PRISMA) flow chart.