Has the Clock Drawing Test been left aside with the replacement of analog clocks by smartphones?

Abstract

The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is a widely used tool for dementia screening, assessing executive functions by drawing an analog clock. With the rise of smartphones, many individuals have transitioned from their traditional watches to checking hours digitally. This raises questions about whether difficulties in CDT performance are linked to cognitive decline or lack of familiarity with analog clocks. A potential decline in the number of studies using the CDT may reflect concerns regarding this issue.

Objective: To investigate whether the number of studies using CDT has been affected over the years by the predominance of smartphones over analog clocks.

Methods: This bibliometric study analyzed 1,298 articles published in PubMed over the past 30 years (1994-2023). 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 past 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 primary focus of the studies was diagnosis (82.2%), followed by treatment (11.5%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of smartphones over analog clocks has not affected the number of studies that have used CDT. Although analog clocks are no longer a part of daily life for many people, this trend does not currently pose an obstacle to the use of the CDT.