The effects of observation of walking in a living room environment, on physical, cognitive, and quality of life related outcomes in older adults with dementia: a study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the effect of observing videos of walking people on physical activity, physical performance, cognition, and quality of life in older adults with dementia.
Results Summary
The study design suggests potential benefits of action observation (videos of walking) for physical activity and performance in dementia patients, with high feasibility and applicability in daily care, though specific results are not detailed in the abstract.
Population
Older adults with dementia in residential care facilities.
Effective Dosage
Videos shown on weekdays during the day for three months (frequency not specified).
Duration
Three months.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
increasing the amount of physical activity | decrease | functions | older adults with dementia | - | decrease the decline in these functions, or even improve them | #1 |
activation of the mirror neuron system through action observation | increase | performance of actions | stroke patients | - | beneficial for the performance of actions | #2 |
observing videos of walking people | neutral | physical activity and physical performance | older adults with dementia | - | effect | #3 |
observing videos of walking people | neutral | cognition and quality of life related factors | older adults with dementia | - | effects | #4 |
observation of walking people | neutral | multiple daily life functions and quality of life related factors | older adults with dementia | - | effect | #5 |
BACKGROUND: The number of older adults with dementia is expected to increase. Dementia is not only characterized by a decline in cognition, also other functions, for example, physical functioning change. A possible means to decrease the decline in these functions, or even improve them, could be increasing the amount of physical activity. A feasible way hereto may be activation of the mirror neuron system through action observation. This method has already been shown beneficial for the performance of actions in, for example, stroke patients. The primary aim of this study is to examine the effect of observing videos of walking people on physical activity and physical performance, in older adults with dementia. Secondary, effects on cognition and quality of life related factors will be examined. METHODS/DESIGN: A cluster randomized controlled trial is being performed, in which videos are shown to older adults with dementia (also additional eligibility criteria apply) in shared living rooms of residential care facilities. Due to the study design, living rooms instead of individual participants are randomly assigned to the experimental (videos of walking people) or control (videos of nature) condition, by means of drawing pieces of paper. The intervention has a duration of three months, and takes place on weekdays, during the day. There are four measurement occasions, in which physical activity, physical functioning, activities of daily living, cognition, the rest-activity rhythm, quality of life, and depression are assessed. Tests for participants are administered by a test administrator who is blind to the group the participant is in. DISCUSSION: This study examines the effect of the observation of walking people on multiple daily life functions and quality of life related factors in older adults with dementia. A strength of this study is that the intervention does not require much time and attention from caregivers or researchers. A challenge of the study is therefore to get to know for how long residents watch the videos. However, the design implies a high feasibility of the study, as well as a high applicability of the intervention into daily care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR4708. Date of registration: 31 July 2014.