Kettle Test

Electric kettle is emptied and disassembled (lid and cable disconnected from the body of the kettle) to challenge problem-solving skills and safety judgment regarding use of electricity.
Additional kitchen utensils and ingredients are placed in immediate task environment as distractors to increase attention demands.
Performance is scored on 13 discrete steps of task based on necessary prompting at each step
- 1) Opening the water faucet
- 2) Filling the kettle with about 2 cups of water
- 3) Turning off the faucet
- 4) Assembling the kettle
- 5) Attaching the electric cord to the kettle
- 6) Plugging the electric cord in an electric socket
- 7) Turning on the kettle
- 8) Assembling the ingredients
- 9) Putting the ingredients into the cups
- 10) Picking up the kettle when water boils
- 11) Pouring the water into the cu
- 12) Adding milk
- 13) Indication of task completion (e.g. verbal, gesture, serving)
If a cue was given, the description of the cue and reasoning for its delivery is noted in the comment column
Following performance, the examiner notes the process that took place and after, asks the client to reflect on the instructions and process, to rate their performance and level of difficulty they experienced in performing the task using questions like:
- "Description of the process by examiner"
- "Recall of the instructions by the client: "What were the steps you had to do?"

Materials:

Electric kettle

Ingredients for beverages plus distractor ingredients (instant coffee, regular tea, herbal tea, sugar, milk, honey, etc.)
Dishes as distractors (3 cups, water pitchers, 2 plates)

User Qualifications: N/A

Scoring Procedures

How to Score: Performance in completing each of the distinct 13 steps of the assessment is rated based on the amount of prompting needed to complete the task on a scale from 0-4.

0 = Intact performance
1 = Slow and/or trial & error, and/or questionable performance, but completes independently
2 = Received general cues
3 = Received specific cueing, incomplete performance or deficient performance
4 = Received physical demonstration or assistance

Ratings for each step are summed to produce a total score, ranging from 0-52.

Score Indications:

Higher scores reflect more severe problems in performance

Psychometrics

Reliability:

Interrater Test-retest: r = .851-.916 for acute stroke

Validity:

Construct validity: Excellent with the MMSE (r=.56), Clock drawing test (r = .59), & Caregiver ratings for ADLs (r = .53) or IADLs (r = .58)

Pros & Cons

Strengths:

Quick, functional performance assessment that tests executive functioning requiring minimal setup.
Task allows for independence in decision-making by allowing the client to choose the beverage they will be preparing
Involves a realistic, functional task that can be applicable to assess performance across various conditions

Weaknesses:

Relies on clinical observations of the examiner
May not be relevant to the client (i.e. those unfamiliar with making tea/coffee or never used a kettle)
Requires access to a kitchen set up and subsequent kitchen supplies
No scoring norms
Not appropriate for severe cognitive impairments
Only involves one specific ADL task

Resources

Kettle Test final manual.pdf

References

Asher, I. E. (2014). Asher’s occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index (4th ed.). AOTA Press.
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. (n.d.). Kettle test. https://www.sralab.org/rehabilitation-measures/disabilities-arm-shoulder-and-hand-questionnaire
Hartman-Maeir, A., Armon, N., & Katz, N. (2005). The Kettle Test: A cognitive functional screening test protocol. https://www.sralab.org/sites/default/files/2017-07/Kettle%20Test%20final%20manual.pdf
Hartman-Maeir, A., Harel, H., & Katz, N. (2009). Kettle Test—A brief measure of cognitive functional performance: Reliability and validity in stroke rehabilitation. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(5), 592–599. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.63.5.592

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