User experience evaluation of Cogscreen for screening mild cognitive impairment: Formative and summative evaluation

Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an early stage of cognitive decline and a key risk factor for dementia. Early detection is essential for timely intervention and prevention, so various digital screening tools have been developed recently. However, many of these tools have limitations. Without assistance, users may have difficulty completing the tests, which could result in increased failure rates and reduced accuracy. This study evaluates the usability of Cogscreen, a mobile cognitive screening tool that can be completed independently from start to finish. Methods A two-step usability evaluation was conducted: a formative evaluation with 5 physiatrists assessing design clarity and usability issues, and a summative evaluation with 15 participants analyzing task completion rates and System Usability Scale (SUS) scores. Results The formative evaluation identified strengths in interface design and overall usability, while also noting areas for refinement. The summative evaluation showed a 97% task completion rate and an average SUS score of 80.2, indicating strong usability. Minor issues were reported in personal information entry and graphical result interpretation. Conclusions Cogscreen demonstrated high usability as a digital screening tool for MCI, underscoring its promise for supporting early detection of cognitive decline. Future refinements should focus on enhancing error handling and improving demographic guidance. Expanding testing across diverse populations could further validate its potential clinical utility.