Abstract PR09: Field application of digital technologies for health assessment in the 10,000 Families Study
Authors: Thyagarajan Bharat , DeAnn Lazovich , Heather Nelson H. , Jen Poynter , Anna Prizment , Michelle Roesler , Erin Cassidy , Sara Putnam , Cavan Reilly , Logan Spector 
Published: June 2022

The 10,000 Families Study (10KFS) is a Minnesota-based cohort study designed to study longitudinal changes in health. Here we report our efforts from a pilot study of 10KFS. During health fairs hosted by the study, we measured anthropometrics, blood pressure, and grip strength; collected biospecimens; performed vision and hearing assessments; and measured lung function and cognitive function. We describe the field deployment of digital applications for measurement of cognitive function, lung function, and hearing assessment in 10KFS. We measure cognitive function using the Digital Clock Drawing (dDCT) test (Cognition Technologies Inc.), a multidimensional task that evaluates spatial skills, semantic knowledge, planning, and motor functioning. We perform spirometry to assess lung function using an Air Smart Spirometer (Pond Healthcare Innovation) that uses a spirometry app (NuvoAir) to estimate forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF). We measure hearing using an iPad-enabled audiometry device (Shoebox, Inc.) that allows us to estimate air conduction and bone conduction over a range of tones from 500-8000 Hertz. These digital devices are low cost and the measurements are readily implemented with minimal training of study staff (training time 2-3 hours). To date, we have performed these measurements on 139 10KFS participants (age range: 5 years–100 years) during an in-person clinic visit. A vast majority (88%; n=123) of eligible 10KFS participants successfully completed all these measurements; participants across the age spectrum were comfortable using these digital technologies during their clinic visit. The Digital Clock Drawing test was administered only to adults &gt;40 years old and completion rates were 92% (n=34) for participants between 41-64 years old and 95% (n=35) for those over 65 years old. The Air Smart Spirometer was administered to participants over 4 years old without a contraindication and completion rates were 96% (n=22) for children 5-17 years old, 98% (n=64) for adults 18-64 years old, and 100% (n=36) for adults over the age of 65 years. The audiometry test was administered to participants &gt;3 years old and completion rates were 87% (n=20) for children 4-17 years old, 100% (n=67) for adults 18-64 years old, and 100% (n=37) for adults over the age of 65 years. As compared to traditional methods for collecting information on cognitive function, lung function, and hearing, these devices allow for real-time monitoring of quality-control measures and allow deployment of standardized methods of data collection in a variety of settings that do not require specialized equipment or have space constraints. In the future we anticipate deploying these methods to a broader range of data collection venues that may include in-home visits, remote assessments, and clinic visits.

This abstract is also being presented as Poster A28.

Citation Format: Bharat Thyagarajan, Lazovich DeAnn, Nelson H. Heather, Poynter Jen, Prizment Anna, Roesler Michelle, Cassidy Erin, Putnam Sara, Reilly Cavan, Spector Logan. Field application of digital technologies for health assessment in the 10,000 Families Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Modernizing Population Sciences in the Digital Age; 2019 Feb 19-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PR09.