Digital clock-drawing to check thinking before surgery for people with different education levels
PRECEDE II Presurgical Cognitive Evaluation Via Digital Clockface Drawing Focusing on Disparities
This project uses a digital clock-drawing tool with explainable AI to find thinking problems before surgery in older adults, especially those with less schooling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11392158 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are an older adult preparing for surgery, you may be asked to draw a clock on a tablet as part of a short digital test. The team will use explainable AI to look at how clock drawings differ across education levels and which drawing features link to problems after surgery. They will compare the digital clock test to other screening tools to see which works best for people with limited reading or schooling. The aim is to make pre-surgery thinking checks fairer and more accurate for patients from different backgrounds.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults (typically 65 and up) who are scheduled for surgery, including those with lower levels of formal education or limited reading ability, are the main candidates.
Not a fit: People not having surgery, much younger adults, or patients unable to interact with a tablet due to severe vision or motor impairments may not benefit from this specific tool.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors identify older patients at higher risk for postoperative complications and tailor care before and after surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Traditional clock-drawing tests and some digital versions have shown usefulness for spotting cognitive problems, but using explainable AI to adjust for education-related differences is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Price, Catherine E — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Price, Catherine E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.