Authors: (including presenting author): :
Cheng WY(1), Cheng WT(1), Lun PK(2), Lam YY(2)
Affiliation: :
(1)Psychiatric Nurse, Psychogeriatric Ward, Kwai Chung Hospital, (2)Occupational Therapist, Psychogeriatric Team, Kwai Chung Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
Keyword 2: :
Gerontechnology
Keyword 3: :
Older Adults
Keyword 4: :
Cognitive Impairment
Keyword 5: :
Psychogeriatric
Introduction: :
Cognitive impairment significantly affects hospitalized elderly patients, compromising functional independence and quality of life. Healthcare systems need innovative, scalable interventions to address this growing challenge. This study evaluated an interprofessional nurse-occupational therapist-delivered gerontechnology-enhanced cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) supporting the Hospital Authority's Smart Care transformation while embodying Professional Service and People-centred Care values. Limited research has examined this collaborative delivery approach combining nursing's therapeutic expertise with occupational therapy's activity analysis capabilities in psychogeriatric settings.
Objectives: :
To evaluate the effectiveness of interprofessional nurse-occupational therapist-delivered Gerontechnology-Based CST on (1) enhancing cognitive functioning; (2) improving depressed mood; (3) improving communication ability, and (4) promoting quality of life among psychogeriatric inpatients with cognitive impairment.
Methodology: :
Single-arm pre-post intervention feasibility study with 13 participants aged 69-83 years (M=74.6, SD=4.8) from a psychogeriatric inpatient ward. The intervention is integrated into Smart Care technologies, including interactive sensory projection systems, TV panel-based interactive games, virtual reality experiences, and cooking activities, enhancing therapeutic capabilities through interprofessional collaboration. Nurses provided therapeutic relationships and clinical monitoring, while occupational therapists facilitated performance analysis. The standardized CST protocol comprised 14 sessions (twice weekly, 45-60 minutes) over seven weeks. Outcomes were assessed using validated instruments: the Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD), and the Holden Communication Scale (HCS).
Result & Outcome: :
Statistical analysis using paired t-tests revealed all outcomes showed statistically significant improvements with large effect sizes (d>0.8) according to Cohen's conventions. Cognitive function showed 16.4% improvement (M=12.23 to 14.23, p=0.043, d=0.627, 95% CI: 0.12-3.88). Depressive symptoms showed a 41.7% reduction (M=5.15 to 3.00; p=0.030; d=0.682; 95% CI: 0.23-4.07). Quality of life exhibited a 12.4% increase (M=30.15 to 33.85, p=0.002, d=1.056, 95% CI: 1.58-5.82). Communication abilities showed 34.4% improvement (M=16.31 to 10.69, p=0.005, d=0.881, 95% CI: 2.12-9.12). Effect sizes ranged from medium to large (d=0.627-1.056), indicating clinically meaningful changes. The single-arm design and small sample size limit generalizability, necessitating larger randomized controlled trials. Future research should explore modified delivery schedules and hybrid models to optimize intervention effectiveness while accommodating healthcare system constraints.
