Aging, Cognitive Decline, Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Hand Dexterity, Muscle Strength
Conditions
Keywords
Technology-assisted block training program, Block-building activities, Cognitive function, Hand dexterity, Grip strength, Older adults, Mental rotation, Mixed-methods research, Spatial cognition, Quality of life
Brief summary
Block-building activities represent a promising tool for enhancing cognitive and hand function in older adults. When integrated with technological support, they offer personalized training advantages; however, their comprehensive effectiveness requires empirical validation. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a Technology-Assisted Block Training Program to explore its effects on cognitive function, hand grip strength, dexterity, and quality of life among community-dwelling older adults, while examining participants' subjective experiences.
Detailed description
In response to the aging population trend, developing evidence-based care programs for older adults has become increasingly necessary. To delay functional decline in individuals, intervention programs that combine cognitive and motor training are gaining greater attention. Manual activities such as block-building can effectively improve working memory and processing abilities. However, traditional block training and cognitive training often struggle to maintain participants' motivation and sustained engagement due to monotonous content. Therefore, technology-assisted block training has emerged as a solution, providing real-time feedback, personalized difficulty adjustment, and multi-sensory stimulation to effectively overcome the limitations of traditional training approaches and enhance participant motivation.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALTechnology-Assisted Block Training Program
This study, drawing on the theories proposed by Aguilar Ramirez et al. (2022) and Shepard and Metzler (1971), developed a mental rotation application and a corresponding block-building lesson plan. Participants then engaged in individual block-building activities, guided by the lesson plan, to train their spatial reasoning skills. Finally, the developed APP was used for mental rotation training, and its suitability and feasibility were rigorously validated through expert review and a pilot study. a. Mental Rotation Virtual Reality APP: The APP's content was validated by interdisciplinary experts (including gerontology, activity planning, cognitive training, and information technology) to ensure its appropriateness and feasibility. The APP incorporates technology-assisted elements, such as real-time feedback and personalized difficulty adjustment for the mental rotation exercises, to enhance training effectiveness and participant motivation. Furthermore, the built-in Creative Showcase
Sponsors
National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Single Group, pre-post test
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Adults aged 65 and older 2. Mentally alert and able to communicate 3. Willing to participate in this study
Exclusion criteria
1. Diagnosed with dementia by a physician 2. Severe sensory or communication impairment 3. Hand function impairment that prevents manipulation of building blocks
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| System Usability - System Usability Scale (SUS) | Baseline , pre-intervention | Description: The SUS assesses usability, learnability, and satisfaction with technology-based systems. Scores range from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better usability. Unit of Measure: Score on a 0-100 scale |
| Cognitive Function - Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) | Time Frame: Baseline, pre-intervention | Description: The MoCA is a 30-point cognitive screening tool with established reliability in older adults. Higher scores indicate better cognitive function. Unit of Measure: Points on a 30-point scale |
| Spatial Cognition - Mental Rotation Test | Baseline , pre-intervention | Description: The Mental Rotation Test assesses spatial cognition. Higher numbers of correct responses indicate better mental rotation ability. Unit of Measure: Number of correct responses |
| Hand Grip Strength - Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer | Baseline ,pre-intervention | Description: Grip strength of each hand is measured using the Jamar dynamometer. Three trials per hand will be averaged. Higher values indicate greater grip strength. Unit of Measure: Kilograms (kg) |
| Hand Dexterity - Purdue Pegboard Test | Baseline ,pre-intervention | Description: The Purdue Pegboard Test assesses fine motor skills and dexterity of the hands and fingers. The score reflects the number of pegs correctly placed in the allotted time. Unit of Measure: Number of pegs placed |
| Well-Being - WHO-5 Well-Being Index | Baseline , pre-intervention | Description: The WHO-5 consists of five items rated on a 25-point scale. Higher scores indicate better well-being and quality of life. Unit of Measure: Points on a 25-point scale |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Function - Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) | Immediately After the 4-week Intervention | Description: The MoCA is a 30-point cognitive screening tool with established reliability in older adults. Higher scores indicate better cognitive function. Unit of Measure: Points on a 30-point scale |
| Spatial Cognition - Mental Rotation Test | Immediately After the 4-week Intervention | Description: The Mental Rotation Test assesses spatial cognition. Higher numbers of correct responses indicate better mental rotation ability. Unit of Measure: Number of correct responses |
| Hand Grip Strength - Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer | Immediately After the 4-week Intervention | Description: Grip strength of each hand is measured using the Jamar dynamometer. Three trials per hand will be averaged. Higher values indicate greater grip strength. Unit of Measure: Kilograms (kg) |
| Hand Dexterity - Purdue Pegboard Test | Immediately After the 4-week Intervention | Description: The Purdue Pegboard Test assesses fine motor skills and dexterity of the hands and fingers. The score reflects the number of pegs correctly placed in the allotted time. Unit of Measure: Number of pegs placed |
| Well-Being - WHO-5 Well-Being Index | Immediately After the 4-week Intervention | Description: The WHO-5 consists of five items rated on a 25-point scale. Higher scores indicate better well-being and quality of life. Unit of Measure: Points on a 25-point scale |
| System Usability - System Usability Scale (SUS) | Immediately After the 4-week Intervention | Description: The SUS assesses usability, learnability, and satisfaction with technology-based systems. Scores range from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better usability. Unit of Measure: Score on a 0-100 scale |
Countries
Taiwan
Contacts
Primary ContactChia-Jung Hsieh Professor, PhD
Backup ContactYu-Ling Chen NP, PHD student
Outcome results
None listed