Both the OCS and OCS-Plus screening tools were developed at the University of Oxford, under the lead of Professor Demeyere, following rigorous neuropsychological and psychometric approaches. The core aim in making these tools available is to improve cognitive screening practices to detect cognitive changes, with a particular focus on vascular cognitive impairments. The screening tools were designed to be inclusive for patients with aphasia, hemiplegia and neglect and reduce any confounds that may occur because of these often co-occurring difficulties.
Several cultural and language adaptations of the Oxford Cognitive Screen are available, with many others ongoing. The endorsed translations adhere to a high standard following strict protocols for translation, and each version has been normed and validated for the targeted population and published in a peer-reviewed publication before making it available.
The screening tools are freely available for publicly funded clinical and research use.
OCS
The Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS) is a first-line, stroke-specific and domain-specific cognitive screening tool which can be delivered at the bedside in acute stroke. The OCS is easy to administer and score and importantly is inclusive for patients with aphasia and neglect. The OCS domains assessed are Language, Praxis, Number, Memory, Spatial and Controlled Attention. The paper-and-pen based OCS was published in 2015, and has been demonstrated to be a sensitive and inclusive cognitive screen for stroke (see publications).
Tele-OCS
The Tele-OCS is a version of the OCS to be administered remotely (i.e., via telephone or video call). Some materials are posted to stroke survivors ahead of time and then opened when instructed during the remote assessment. These materials subsequently either need to be shown on the screen (video) or posted back (telephone). The Tele-OCS has some preliminary evidence of equivalence to the in-person assessment of the OCS, with scores on both versions largely overlapping.
OCS-Plus
The OCS-Plus is a computerised tablet- based tool developed to detect more subtle cognitive changes which may otherwise go undetected. The OCS-Plus primarily focusses on briefly assessing domain general performance in Memory and Executive Function. The OCS-plus has been validated and normed in a healthy ageing sample and is undergoing further research for validity of use in specific clinical groups.
OxMET
The Oxford Digital Multiple Errands Test (OxMET) is a very brief (<4 minutes) domain specific assessment of the effects of executive dysfuction. Using an unfamiliar shopping scenario, stroke survivors must buy items on a list and answer some questions, all whilst following complex rules. At the end of the assessment an automated report of performance is generated with direct comparison between healthy ageing adults, other stroke survivors, and the individual who was administered the test. The OxMET has been validated on chronic stroke and subacute stroke and compared to real life assessments of everyday functioning.
Cognitive Profiling
Both OCS and OCS-Plus return a visual snapshot of a patient’s cognitive profile, in a ‘wheel of cognition’, which at a glance demonstrates the specific cognitive domain impairments as well as spared domains of cognition, thereby highlighting both strengths and weaknesses.
A video of a talk by Prof Demeyere about OCS and OCS-Plus is available below: