None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Institutionalised individuals with dementia often suffer from symptoms or behaviours that significantly impact their well-being and quality of life. Depression, poor sleep quality and agitated behaviours are common elements that contribute to a reduction in life quality. Research continues to show that exposure to natural environments intrinsically creates a positive biological and psychological response. Using these same principles, the study aims to identify the influence a pseudo-natural environment has on dementia symptoms and behaviours that negatively affect quality of life.
Interventions
The interventional phase (Control B) delivers a projection of recorded exterior natural environments (3 total) in an interior context to create an immersive (sight and sound) experience of nature. Participants will view all three variations of the natural environments throughout each Arm of the intervention phase, which will be completed over a 12 week period. An incremental approach has been applied to the length of intervention exposure with each Arm of the intervention phase (Control B). The
The interventional phase (Control B) delivers a projection of recorded exterior natural environments (3 total) in an interior context to create an immersive (sight and sound) experience of nature. Participants will view all three variations of the natural environments throughout each Arm of the intervention phase, which will be completed over a 12 week period. An incremental approach has been applied to the length of intervention exposure with each Arm of the intervention phase (Control B). The environments will be taken from 3 contexts - Australian bush, Ocean/Beach, Animals in nature. Arm 1 (Week 12-15) Each participant (individually) will watch 5 minutes of any of the 3 potential natural environment projections with a care worker (2x per week) for a period of three weeks. Arm 2 (Week 15-18) Each participant (individually) will watch 10 minutes of any of the 3 potential natural environment projections with a care worker (2x per week) for a period of three weeks. Arm 3 (Week 18-21) Each participant (individually) will watch 15 minutes of any of the 3 potential natural environment projections with a care worker (2x per week) for a period of three weeks. Arm 4 (Week 21-24) Each participant (individually) will watch 20 minutes of any of the 3 potential natural environment projections with a care worker (2x per week) for a period of three weeks. The researcher will unobtrusively collect timing and observational information relating to participant responses to each intervention throughout the study. This information will identify the preferred natural environment for each participant and the group collectively.
Sponsors
Associate Professor, Dr Dianne Smith
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Other
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
55 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Individuals residing in an institutional care facility within the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. Individuals with a confirmed dementia diagnosis. Individuals with active behavioural symptoms (assessed using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory) with a frequency score of 4 (weekly) in at least two items of the CMAI or a total score greater than 45.
Exclusion criteria
Individuals who are significantly visually impaired. Individuals who have a medically diagnosed sleep breathing disorder (sleep apnoea). Individuals who have a seizure disorder.
Outcome results
None listed