Alzheimer'
Conditions
Interventions
Small-group recreational activities
Observation only
Sponsors
Tokushukai Medical Corporation, Geriatric Health Services Facility Ajisai
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1) Residents of the dementia ward in the facility. 2) Aged 65 years or older. 3) Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease by a physician. 4) A score of 15 or below on the Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised (HDS-R). 5) Able to move within shared spaces independently or with distal supervision. 6) The primary daytime activity location is the shared space (not the private room). 7) Not belonging to any existing small-group activity program. 8) No planned discharge at the start of the study. 9) After receiving sufficient explanation about the study, participants who provide voluntary assent and whose proxy provides informed consent; if the participant's capacity to consent is judged insufficient, inclusion is based on proxy consent alone.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1) Deemed unsuitable for participation by the attending physician. 2) Due to sensory impairments, the attending physician or a nurse, care worker, or therapist not involved in the study judged that the participant had marked difficulty engaging in conversation at a normal speaking volume, recognizing others' positions or facial expressions, or establishing reciprocal interaction, making participation in small-group activities or observation of interpersonal interactions inappropriate. 3) Presence of cognitive impairment caused by conditions other than Alzheimer's disease, or a medical history strongly suggesting such causes (e.g., cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, severe psychiatric disorders). 4) Proxy consent could not be obtained. 5) Any other case deemed inappropriate for inclusion by the principal investigator.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Changes in interpersonal relationships in daily life are evaluated through direct observation during free-time periods (30 minutes each in the morning and afternoon). Proximity behavior is defined as being within 1.2 meters, maintained for at least 5 seconds, with reciprocal interaction present. Observations are recorded using a 5 minute interval time-sampling method (12 samples per day). The quality of proximity is assessed using a simplified Dyadic Code, classifying interactions during proximity as Positive, Neutral, or Negative. For comparison, two non-participants living in the same environment are observed using the same procedures and treated as pseudo-controls. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Quality of activities (A-QOA), Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms (BPSD+Q), Cognitive Function (HDS-R) | — |
Countries
Japan
Contacts
Public ContactAyumi Ikeda
Tokushukai Medical Corporation, Geriatric Health Services Facility Ajisai Rehabilitation
Outcome results
None listed