Digital Gaming Intervention for Older People in Long-term Care

NCT06018974 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 49/2021
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 49
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Older people in long-term care (LTC) are often less physically active than their community-dwelling peers. Low physical activity level is associated with more symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as with lower physical performance. This weakens coping with daily activities and increases the care costs. Earlier research have found that playing digital games that require physical activity affects positively functioning of older people. Playing can increase physical activity, improve balance and walking speed, lift the mood and create opportunities for social interaction. The effects of digital gaming, especially on objectively measured physical activity and social functioning, are still unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of digital gaming intervention with Yetitablet to physical, psychological and social functioning and activity of older people in long-term care environment. This study investigates the effectiveness of the Yetitablet in improving the functioning of older people. Yetitablet is an assistive technology device developed for special groups. Yetitablet is a large interactive touchscreen tablet with 55" screen and with Android operating system and it includes numerous applications. Yetitablet has mobile stand on wheels, which allows the screen to be raised and lowered, as well as tilted as needed, all the way to a desk position. Applications can be downloaded to the device from the Google Play Store, and it also has its own game applications, such as darts, table hockey and memory game. These games can be played individually or in group. There is no previous scientific research on the effectiveness of the Yetitablet on the functioning and activity of older people in long-term care settings.

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms; Aging; Loneliness; Sedentary Behavior; Social Isolation; Physical Inactivity

Keywords

aging; digital games; long-term care; older people; physical functioning; psychological functioning; social functioning; physical activity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from baseline in the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) at week 12

  Change in mean scores on the Timed-up-and-Go test (Completion time in seconds, faster performance indicate better functioning).

  Baseline and week 12

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change from baseline in the Revised Index for Social Engagement (RISE) at week 12

  Baseline and week 12

• Change from baseline in weekly time spent in light to vigorous physical activity

  13 weeks

• Change in mood before and after every gaming session

  Every gaming session during three month long intervention

• Change from baseline in hand grip strength at week 12

  Baseline and week 12

• Change from baseline in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) at week 12

  Baseline and week 12

Study Arms (2)

Yetitablet group

EXPERIMENTAL

Older adults in the experimental group will participate in a 12-week, 3 times per week, 30-60 minutes per session (recommendation) gaming session with Yetitablet in their home facility. Games will be played in group of 3-5 people with participants taking turns. Gaming sessions are supervised by research assistant or facility personnel.

Device: Yetitablet gaming

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in control group will continue their normal daily activities in their home facility. No intervention is provided to control group (passive control group).

Interventions

Yetitablet gaming DEVICE

Playing digital games like bowling, memory games, coordination games ect. with the Yetitablet.

Yetitablet group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• lives in a long-term care facility for older people participating in the study
• has sufficient cognitive ability to understand the purpose of the study
• is able to walk (with or without walking aid) the distance required by physical functioning tests (10m)
• no illness restricting light exercise
• no serious, acute illness
• sufficient cognitive skills to understand game instructions
• sufficient functionality of the upper limbs to use the touch screen

You may not qualify if:

• unable to move independently even with walking aid
• severe memory disorder or other acute illness
• unable to understand game instructions, or able to concentrate on playing games for the required time
• too weak vision to play games
• unable to use upper limbs to play
• simultaneously receiving some other treatment that differs from usual treatment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Oulu: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Oulu

Oulu, 90220, Finland

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Jantunen H, Wasenius N, Salonen MK, Perala MM, Osmond C, Kautiainen H, Simonen M, Pohjolainen P, Kajantie E, Rantanen T, von Bonsdorff MB, Eriksson JG. Objectively measured physical activity and physical performance in old age. Age Ageing. 2017 Mar 1;46(2):232-237. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afw194.

  PMID: 27810849 BACKGROUND

• de Oliveira LDSSCB, Souza EC, Rodrigues RAS, Fett CA, Piva AB. The effects of physical activity on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in elderly people living in the community. Trends Psychiatry Psychother. 2019 Jan-Mar;41(1):36-42. doi: 10.1590/2237-6089-2017-0129. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

  PMID: 30994779 BACKGROUND

• van Santen J, Droes RM, Holstege M, Henkemans OB, van Rijn A, de Vries R, van Straten A, Meiland F. Effects of Exergaming in People with Dementia: Results of a Systematic Literature Review. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;63(2):741-760. doi: 10.3233/JAD-170667.

  PMID: 29689716 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Sedentary Behavior; Social Isolation; Social Adjustment; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Social Behavior

Study Officials

• Satu Elo, PhD

  Oulu University of Applied Sciences

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 9, 2023
• First Posted: August 31, 2023
• Study Start: September 13, 2023
• Primary Completion: March 11, 2024
• Study Completion: March 11, 2024
• Last Updated: June 18, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FI (1)