O uso do teste do desenho do relógio e o impacto dos smartphones: uma revisão bibliométrica

Abstract

Introduction: The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is widely used to screen for dementia. The test assesses executive functions by drawing an analog clock. With the development of smartphones, many people have put aside their watches and are now checking the time digitally. This raises questions about whether difficulties in the CDT are related to cognitive decline or unfamiliarity with analog clocks. Objective: To analyze trends in publications on the use of the Clock Drawing Test and the impact of smartphones on cognitive screening in older adults over the past 30 years. Methods: In this bibliometric study, 1,298 articles published in PubMed over the past 30 years (1994–2023) were analyzed. Data included year of publication, region, and methodological design. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Significance was set at 5%. Results: The number of studies using CDT has increased over the last 30 years, from 118 (1994–2003) to 405 (2004–2013) and 775 (2014–2023). Most studies were conducted in Europe (37.6%), Asia (27.7%), and North America (21.0%). The main focus of the studies was diagnosis (82.2%), followed by screening associated with treatment (11.5%). Final considerations: Contrary to what was mentioned, the number of studies using CDT has increased over the last 30 years, indicating that the transition from analog watches to smartphones does not harm the use of CDT. However, it is possible that the impact of smartphone use on CDT may occur in 20, 30 years, when today's adults become tomorrow's elderly, highlighting the relevance that health professionals consider the impact of modern technology on the population's lives and are open to adapting and complementing traditional assessment methods to maintain the accuracy and relevance of diagnoses.