OxMET

The OxMET is an ecologically valid executive dysfunction screening tool.

OxMET was developed by the Translational Neuropsychology Research Group at the University of Oxford. The OxMET cognitive screen has been standardised, normed and validated (Webb et al 2021, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation). OxMET is suitable for use with adults, and in chronic (>6-month post-stoke) and subacute (<3 months post-stroke).

The tool is not for self-assessment. Instead, OxMET provides health professionals with a brief, ecologically valid, assessment of executive dysfunction using a naturalistic shopping scenario. The test is automatically scored and evaluated against age adjusted norms (three age groups; under 64, between 64 and 72, and over 72). Upon completion, a visual snapshot report is automatically generated and can be stored locally on the device. The information contained in the report is not in itself a clinical diagnosis. The report should be used to inform a clinical diagnosis that takes into account all relevant clinical factors.

Users who download the OxMET need to register with the research team to activate the app. There are two different user activations for the OxMET app and each licence can be used to activate the OxMET app on up to 4 individual devices.

1. A standard user activation, in which participants’ task data cannot be uploaded and only a local copy of the assessment and its accompanying visual snapshot report are stored on the device. The participant’s performance is compared to normative cut-offs within the local version of the app. At the end of the assessment, the assessor is presented with a graphical/written summary of performance, which can be saved as an image locally and then printed/emailed/shared by the assessor via their professional accounts. Only up to 8 local sessions can be saved at any time. Further assessments require deleting previously stored local assessments within the app.

2. A research user activation, in which the locally stored anonymous participants’ task data can be uploaded to the user’s assigned folder on secure cloud storage. The app can be run off-line and data uploaded when an internet connection is available. As with the standard version, only up to 8 local sessions can be saved. Further assessments require uploading of data or deleting of sessions. The research version of the app allows full data storage through user-directed manual uploading of the local app storage data to cloud storage associated uniquely with your licence and can be added to a research project collection where there are multiple researchers collecting data. For the research user licence, a collaboration and data sharing agreement between the University of Oxford and your institution will be required. In addition, there will be an administration fee for data storage and set up, as well as regular downloads of the data (depending on length of project and sample size).

OxMET is currently undergoing further research for validity of use in specific clinical groups and is not a medical device.