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    16,361Registered studies name a cognitive test in an outcome measure11,688 name a test you can run hereExplore the studies
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  3. /Clinical trials
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  5. /Cancer
  6. /Digit Span Test

Clinical trials data

Digit Span Test in cancer trials: 107 registered studies

Every registered cancer study on ClinicalTrials.gov that names the Digit Span Test in an outcome measure: how often it is a primary outcome, the tests named with it, how large the studies are and when they measure it.

Registered cancer studies name it in an outcome measure
107
Name it in a primary outcome, 38%
41 of 107
Of the condition's 760 studies name it, against 10% of all registered studies
14%
Other conditions
Median participants per study
67
By phase
Try the Digit Span Test

Tests named in the same studies

The library tests that cancer studies naming the Digit Span Test name most often beside it.
  1. 1

    Verbal Learning66 studies, 23 as a primary outcome

  2. 2

    Verbal Fluency62 studies, 21 as a primary outcome

  3. 3

    Trail Making Test52 studies, 19 as a primary outcome

  4. 4

    Symbol Coding27 studies, 14 as a primary outcome

  5. 5

    Stroop Color-Word Test24 studies, 12 as a primary outcome

  6. 6

    Category Fluency15 studies, 4 as a primary outcome

  7. 7

    Continuous Performance Test9 studies, 4 as a primary outcome

  8. 8

    Short Story Recall8 studies, 3 as a primary outcome

  9. 9

    Symbol Scan Task8 studies, 3 as a primary outcome

  10. 10

    Paced Visual Serial Addition Test5 studies, 3 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

Studies by start year

Each study counted once. 2026 is partly planned starts.
02000: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome20002001: 1 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2002: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2003: 1 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2004: 1 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2005: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome20052006: 1 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2007: 2 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2008: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2009: 2 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome2010: 1 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome20102011: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2012: 2 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome2013: 3 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2014: 5 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome2015: 6 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome20152016: 5 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2017: 8 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2018: 3 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2019: 5 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2020: 6 studies, 4 with a test as a primary outcome20202021: 7 studies, 3 with a test as a primary outcome2022: 6 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2023: 9 studies, 3 with a test as a primary outcome2024: 12 studies, 7 with a test as a primary outcome2025: 6 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome20252026: 13 studies, 6 with a test as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

Show as a table
Registered studies by start year
Start yearStudiesA test as a primary outcome
200000
200110
200200
200311
200411
200500
200611
200720
200800
200922
201011
201100
201222
201331
201452
201562
201650
201781
201831
201951
202064
202173
202261
202393
2024127
202561
2026136

Phases and study sizes

By phase

  • Early phase 12 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 12 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 210 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 39 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Not applicable59 studies, 23 as a primary outcome
  • Observational25 studies, 12 as a primary outcome

Participants per study

102050100200
  • Phase 284 median, 56 to 155
  • Not applicable70 median, 43 to 110
  • Observational65 median, 35 to 120
Participants per study. The bar spans the middle half of the studies in each phase, the mark is the median, and the axis is logarithmic. Phases with fewer than 10 studies that give a size are left out.
Show as a table
Participants per cancer study that names the Digit Span Test, by phase
PhaseStudies with a sizeMedianMiddle half
Phase 2108456 to 155
Not applicable577043 to 110
Observational256535 to 120

When cancer trials measure it

Half of the primary outcomes that name the Digit Span Test are measured within 6 months of the start, and the middle half from 12 weeks to 12 months. 38 primary outcomes give a duration.

Latest time point of each outcome

  • Within a day8 outcomes, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Up to 4 weeks8 outcomes, 4 as a primary outcome
  • 1 to 3 months18 outcomes, 9 as a primary outcome
  • 3 to 6 months26 outcomes, 7 as a primary outcome
  • 6 to 12 months25 outcomes, 8 as a primary outcome
  • 1 to 2 years8 outcomes, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Over 2 years11 outcomes, 4 as a primary outcome
  • No duration given3 outcomes, 3 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

104 of the 107 outcome measures give a duration. A single visit counts as within a day.

Status, results, interventions and countries

Status

  • Recruiting28 studies, 11 as a primary outcome
  • Not yet recruiting7 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Active, not recruiting11 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Completed35 studies, 13 as a primary outcome
  • Stopped early11 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
  • Status unknown15 studies, 6 as a primary outcome

What they test

  • Behavioral32 studies, 13 as a primary outcome
  • Drug22 studies, 8 as a primary outcome
  • Device11 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Procedure6 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Diagnostic test4 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Biological1 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Radiation12 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Other33 studies, 12 as a primary outcome
  • None given10 studies, 5 as a primary outcome

Intervention types as registered. A study can list several; observational studies often list none.

Where their sites are

  • United States42 studies, 20 as a primary outcome
  • Canada9 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Denmark8 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Netherlands7 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Italy6 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Spain6 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Australia4 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • United Kingdom4 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Germany3 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Hong Kong3 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Norway3 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Belgium2 studies, 0 as a primary outcome

25 countries in all. A study with sites in several counts in each; 3 list no site.

Reported results

Completed studies with results posted on ClinicalTrials.gov, a results paper the registry links to the study, or both.

Completed cancer studies that name the Digit Span Test: 20 of 35, 57%

Every completed study with a cognitive outcome: 3,626 of 7,953, 46%

Completed cancer studies that name the Digit Span Test and every completed study, by how they reported results
ResultsCompleted cancer studies that name the Digit Span TestEvery completed study
Results on ClinicalTrials.gov and a paper3, 9%776, 10%
Results on ClinicalTrials.gov only9, 26%1,139, 14%
A results paper only8, 23%1,711, 22%
Neither15, 43%4,327, 54%

The 107 studies

Filter by phase, sponsor, status, country, intervention, outcome list, size and start year. Each study links to its record on ClinicalTrials.gov.
ConditionCancer
TestThe Digit Span Test

107 studies match. 41 name the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome. Median size 67 participants. Median time to the primary outcome: 6 months.

Loading 107 studies; the filters turn on when they arrive.

By start year
0510152000: 0 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20002001: 1 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2002: 0 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2003: 1 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2004: 1 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2005: 0 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20052006: 1 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2007: 2 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2008: 0 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2009: 2 studies, 2 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2010: 1 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20102011: 0 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2012: 2 studies, 2 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2013: 3 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2014: 5 studies, 2 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2015: 6 studies, 2 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20152016: 5 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2017: 8 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2018: 3 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2019: 5 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2020: 6 studies, 4 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20202021: 7 studies, 3 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2022: 6 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2023: 9 studies, 3 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2024: 12 studies, 7 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2025: 6 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20252026: 13 studies, 6 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome

2026 is partly planned starts. Not shown: 2 planned to start after 2026.

Show as a table
Matching studies by start year
Start yearStudiesAs a primary outcome
200000
200110
200200
200311
200411
200500
200611
200720
200800
200922
201011
201100
201222
201331
201452
201562
201650
201781
201831
201951
202064
202173
202261
202393
2024127
202561
2026136

Library tests named most

  • Digit Span Test107 studies, 41 as a primary outcome
  • Verbal Learning66 studies, 23 as a primary outcome
  • Verbal Fluency62 studies, 21 as a primary outcome
  • Trail Making Test52 studies, 19 as a primary outcome
  • Symbol Coding27 studies, 14 as a primary outcome
  • Stroop Color-Word Test24 studies, 12 as a primary outcome
  • Category Fluency15 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Continuous Performance Test9 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Short Story Recall8 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Symbol Scan Task8 studies, 3 as a primary outcome

Largest condition groups

  • Cancer107 studies, 41 as a primary outcome
  • Depression and bipolar disorder9 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
  • Pain and fatigue8 studies, 6 as a primary outcome
  • Sleep and sleep disorders7 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Anxiety, PTSD and OCD4 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Mild cognitive impairment2 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Aging, frailty and exercise2 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Dementia and Alzheimer's1 study, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Stroke1 study, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Brain injury and concussion1 study, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Multiple sclerosis1 study, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Obesity and diabetes1 study, 0 as a primary outcome

Phases

Participants

Lead sponsor: industry 2, NIH 1, other 104. Interventional 82, observational 25.

As a primary outcomeSecondary or other outcomeThe Digit Span Test

The studies, newest registration first

Each number opens the study's record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Registered studies that match the filters, newest registration first, with the library tests each one names and the outcome list that names them.
StudyStartPhaseConditionsParticipantsLead sponsorStatusLibrary tests named, with the latest time point
NCT07908147Start2027PhaseEarly phase 1ConditionsCancerParticipants12Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary5 years
  • Verbal LearningSecondary5 years
  • Verbal FluencySecondary5 years
  • Digit Span TestSecondary5 years
NCT07769099Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsCancerParticipants236Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestPrimary12 months
NCT07755839Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsDepression and bipolar disorder, Cancer, Anxiety, PTSD and OCDParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
  • Cancellation TestSecondary6 months
NCT07740317Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsCancerParticipants50Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary12 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary12 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary12 months
  • Digit Span TestPrimary12 months
NCT07729969Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsCancerParticipants110Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary12 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary12 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary12 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary12 months
  • Category FluencySecondary12 months
  • Tower PlanningSecondary12 months
  • Symbol Scan TaskSecondary12 months
  • Delayed Match-to-SampleSecondary12 months
  • One-Touch Tower PlanningSecondary12 months
NCT07716306Start2027PhaseNot applicableConditionsCancerParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
  • Card Sorting Test (Berg)Secondary6 months
NCT07710131Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsCancerParticipants36Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary
  • Digit Span TestPrimary
  • Symbol CodingPrimary
  • Word Pair LearningPrimary
NCT07652476Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsCancerParticipants100Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimarysame day
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimarysame day
  • Verbal LearningPrimarysame day
  • Verbal FluencyPrimarysame day
  • Digit Span TestPrimarysame day
  • Symbol CodingPrimarysame day
  • Picture Naming TestPrimarysame day
  • Complex Figure Copy and RecallPrimarysame day
  • Corsi Block-Tapping TestPrimarysame day
NCT07633626Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsDepression and bipolar disorder, CancerParticipants24Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary12 weeks
  • Verbal LearningPrimary12 weeks
  • Verbal FluencyPrimary12 weeks
  • Digit Span TestPrimary12 weeks
  • Symbol CodingPrimary12 weeks
  • Symbol Scan TaskPrimary12 weeks
NCT07586722Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsCancerParticipants32Lead sponsorOtherStatusActive, not recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestPrimary12 weeks
  • Clock Vigilance TestPrimary12 weeks
NCT07553481Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsCancerParticipants172Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
  • Eriksen Flanker TaskSecondary6 months
NCT07448103Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsBrain injury and concussion, CancerParticipants30Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary13 weeks
NCT07147621Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsCancerParticipants120Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary12 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary12 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary12 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary12 months
NCT07083518Start2025PhaseNot applicableConditionsCancerParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusActive, not recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary13 weeks
  • Verbal LearningSecondary13 weeks
  • Digit Span TestSecondary13 weeks
  • Task Switching TestSecondary13 weeks
NCT07061626Start2026PhasePhase 1ConditionsCancerParticipants56Lead sponsorIndustryStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Verbal LearningSecondary12 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary12 months
  • Short Story RecallSecondary12 months
  • Symbol Scan TaskSecondary12 months
NCT07046936Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsCancerParticipants30Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary4 weeks
  • Verbal LearningSecondary4 weeks
  • Verbal FluencySecondary4 weeks
  • Digit Span TestSecondary4 weeks
NCT07021339Start2024PhasePhase 3ConditionsCancerParticipants178Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Verbal LearningSecondary12 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary12 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary12 months
  • Delayed Recall ModuleSecondary12 months
NCT06905587Start2025PhasePhase 3ConditionsCancer, Pain and fatigueParticipants50Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary16 weeks
  • Continuous Performance TestSecondary16 weeks
NCT06878469Start2025PhaseNot applicableConditionsCancerParticipants200Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary12 months
  • Verbal FluencyPrimary12 months
  • Digit Span TestPrimary12 months
  • Task Switching TestPrimary12 months
  • Complex Figure Copy and RecallPrimary12 months
NCT06727773Start2025PhasePhase 2ConditionsCancerParticipants90Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary12 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary12 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary12 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary12 months
  • Category FluencySecondary12 months
NCT06727370Start2024PhaseObservationalConditionsCancer, Lung diseaseParticipants200Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary12 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary12 months
  • Verbal LearningPrimary12 months
  • Verbal FluencyPrimary12 months
  • Digit Span TestPrimary12 months
  • Symbol CodingPrimary12 months
  • Corsi Block-Tapping TestPrimary12 months
NCT06693102Start2025PhaseNot applicableConditionsCancerParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Verbal LearningOther outcome6 months
  • Verbal FluencyOther outcome6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
  • Category FluencyOther outcome6 months
NCT06606535Start2024PhaseObservationalConditionsCancerParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusStatus unknownLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary
  • Digit Span TestPrimary
  • Symbol CodingPrimary
  • Short Story RecallPrimary
NCT06589544Start2024PhaseNot applicableConditionsDepression and bipolar disorder, CancerParticipants100Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
NCT06584110Start2024PhaseNot applicableConditionsDementia and Alzheimer's, Mild cognitive impairment, CancerParticipants236Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestPrimary10 months
  • Task Switching TestPrimary10 months

Page 1 of 5

Questions, answered from the data

How many cancer trials use the Digit Span Test?

107 registered cancer studies on ClinicalTrials.gov name it in an outcome measure, 41 of them in a primary outcome: 14% of the condition's 760 studies with a cognitive outcome, against 10% of all of them. It is the 4th most named test in cancer trials.

Which tests do cancer trials use with the Digit Span Test?

Verbal Learning (66 studies), Verbal Fluency (62 studies) and the Trail Making Test (52 studies).

How many participants do phase 2 cancer trials that use the Digit Span Test enroll?

Half of the phase 2 studies that name it enroll 84 participants or fewer, and the middle half enroll 56 to 155. 10 of them give a size.

When do cancer trials measure the Digit Span Test?

Half of the primary outcomes that name the Digit Span Test are measured within 6 months of the start, and the middle half from 12 weeks to 12 months. 38 primary outcomes give a duration.

How many completed cancer trials that use the Digit Span Test have reported results?

20 of the 35 completed studies that name it, 57%, have reported results: 12 posted them on ClinicalTrials.gov, 11 have a results paper linked to the registry record, and 3 did both. The other 15 show neither. Of all completed studies with a cognitive outcome, 46% have reported results.

More on the Digit Span Test and cancer

  • Every cognitive test in cancer trials: 760 studies
  • The Digit Span Test in all clinical trials: 1,629 studies

The Digit Span Test in other conditions

  • Dementia and Alzheimer's181
  • Mild cognitive impairment169
  • Depression and bipolar disorder143
  • Aging, frailty and exercise129
  • Stroke100
  • Brain injury and concussion98
  • Parkinson's disease86
  • Anxiety, PTSD and OCD72
  • Schizophrenia and psychosis66
  • Healthy volunteers64
  • Obesity and diabetes64
  • Sleep and sleep disorders63
  • Pain and fatigue61
  • Cognitive impairment and decline60
  • Cardiovascular disease59
  • ADHD58

Other tests in cancer trials

  • Verbal Learning235
  • Verbal Fluency200
  • Trail Making Test187
  • Stroop Color-Word Test65
  • Symbol Coding58

How the studies are counted

For each test family, the census runs ClinicalTrials.gov's own outcome search for the family's names and reads every study first posted by the day the family was counted. These studies were read on 10 November 2026. A study counts once on a page, however many tests it names. Counts for a test cover every version of the task under any of its names, so a page can count studies that used a commercial version.

The census adds two things to each record and changes nothing in it: which outcome list names the test (primary, then secondary, then other), and the condition groups, matched on the study's condition names and MeSH terms. A study can fall in several groups; one whose only condition is cognitive impairment or decline falls in “Cognitive impairment and decline”. Studies that name only instruments outside the library count in every total and share but are not listed.

A second read on 10 November 2026 added each study's overall status, whether results are posted, its intervention types, the countries of its sites and the time frame of the outcome that names each test. A time frame counts by the latest time point it names: “Baseline, 12 and 24 weeks” is 24 weeks, a single visit is within a day, and one that names no duration, such as “end of treatment”, is left out of the timings.

A third read on 10 November 2026 added the papers the registry links to each study: those its sponsor lists as reporting results, and those PubMed links to it through the study's NCT number. A study has a results paper when one of them came out in or after the month of its primary completion and PubMed does not class it as a protocol, review or comment. A paper that never gives the NCT number is not linked, so some studies counted as reporting neither did publish.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, which does not endorse these pages. Every study line is in the data release 2.1.0, and the explorer's own file is clinical-trials-studies.json.

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