Usability of the Rhode Island Mobile Cognitive Assessment Tool for Self-Administration in Detecting Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

Objective This study evaluated the usability of the Rhode Island Mobile Cognitive Assessment Tool (RIMCAT), a proctored digital cognitive screening measure to assess its potential for self-administration. Methods 100 participants (Healthy Controls [HC] n = 50; Cognitively Impaired [CI] n = 50) were recruited, and 90 completed the RIMCAT twice, with verbal prompts when necessary. Participants then completed an exit survey regarding their experience. Results All HC completed the RIMCAT, but four CI individuals could not. Most finished in under 30 min. HC (M = 2.18, SD = 1.93) required significantly fewer prompts during the first RIMCAT administration compared to the CI group (M = 3.82, SD = 2.87). Both groups needed fewer prompts on the second visit, with prompts often related to input methods, button use, and instruction comprehension. Conclusions The RIMCAT shows promise for self-administration, particularly with minor modifications that could improve clarity, interface design, and user experience for optimal usability and self-administration.