Creating a standardized protocol for the Fist-Edge-Palm assessment V.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Creating a standardized protocol for the clinical use of Luria’s Fist-Edge-Palm assessment
IRAS ID
240704
Contact name
Michael Varkovetski
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bournemouth University: Research Ethics
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Alexander Luria’s Fist-Edge-Palm (FEP) task is a brief neuropsychological assessment, specifically to evaluate frontal lobe and psycho-motor functioning. The Fist-Edge-Palm task requires participants to imitate three hand motions performed by the researcher. One full cycle starts with a fist with the knuckles down, followed by a cutting motion with fingers fully extended, and ending with palm down with fingers extended. Although it has been used extensively by clinicians, a standardized accepted protocol has never been developed. Due to not having such a protocol, clinicians do not have a unified way of understanding a patient’s performance and type of errors made on this assessment. \n\nHere we propose a quantitative, within- and between-subject’s study to identify the protocol for the FEP assessment that best distinguishes frontal lobe damage/atrophy from damage/atrophy in other lobes of the brain. A standardized protocol would make Luria’s assessment a more reliable and valid method of gaining comprehensive understanding of a patient’s impairments. We aim to test patients under the care of consultants for medical elderly care and neurology. This included patients on Portland Wards, Rockley Ward or Brownsea Ward in Poole Hospital.\n\nEligible participants will be assessed on the Fist-Edge-Palm task using their left or right hand. Each participants hand will be video recorded as they perform three separate sequences; self paced, externally paced at 60 bpm and externally paced at a fast speed at 120 bpm with 10 cycles per sequence. The researcher will identify and score the different types of hand movements and the type and number of errors made. \n\nThe duration of the study will be approximately 10 minutes per patient. The hand movement task will be completed at the bedside of each participant with a researcher. Responses will be analyzed using statistical procedures such as multiple regression or a non-parametric alternative. \n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
18/NS/0038
Date of REC Opinion
29 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion