ABSTRACT
Introducción: La evaluación cognitiva es una herramienta fundamental en los centros de mayores a la hora de planificar la atención e individualizar la intervención. La Sociedade Galega de Xerontoloxía e Xeriatría ha constituido un Grupo de Trabajo sobre Evaluación Cognitiva y Neuropsicológica con el objetivo de estudiar los instrumentos empleados e identificar los principales retos en esta área. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio exploratorio a través de encuesta en línea a los socios de la Sociedade Galega de Xerontoloxía e Xeriatría entre diciembre de 2013 y enero de 2014. Participaron 49 profesionales, de los cuales 26 eran profesionales de la psicología y 10 de la medicina. Resultados: Se encuentra un consenso en el uso del MMSE como instrumento de cribado y del GDS como escala global de la demencia. Existe mayor variabilidad en las baterías generales para la valoración de las demencias (CAMCOG-R, ADAS-Cog, Test Barcelona abreviado) y en el uso de pruebas específicas y de baterías de deterioro severo. Conclusiones: Se sugiere un riesgo de polarización del sector, en el que un porcentaje elevado de profesionales emplearía unos pocos instrumentos generales y un porcentaje pequeño un número elevado de instrumentos específicos. Se subraya la necesidad de un consenso que facilite el desempeño, objetive las necesidades formativas, maximice la relación entre evaluación e intervención cognitiva y proporcione herramientas para valorar el cambio (AU)
Introduction: Cognitive assessment is a fundamental tool in centres for the elderly when planning individualized care and intervention. The Galician Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Sociedade Galega of Xerontoloxía and Xeriatría) has formed a Working Group on Cognitive and Neuropsychological Assessment, with the aim of studying the tools used and to identify the main challenges in this area. Material and methods: An exploratory study was conducted via an online questionnaire with Sociedade Galega of Xerontoloxía and Xeriatría members between December 2013 and January 2014. It was completed by 49 professionals, of whom 26 were professionals in psychology and 10 medical doctors. Results: Consensus was found on the use of the MMSE as a screening tool, as well as the Global Deterioration Scale for dementia. There is a wide variation in the choice of general batteries of tests for the assessment of dementia (CAMCOG-R, ADAS-Cog, abbreviated Barcelona Test), and of the use of specific tests and a severe impairment battery. Conclusions: The risk of bias in the sector is suggested, with a high percentage of general practitioners using a few tools, and a small percentage using a large number of specific tools. The need for a consensus is stressed in order to facilitate assessment, objectify training needs, maximize the relationship between assessment and cognitive intervention, and provide tools to assess change (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged , Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Neuropsychological Tests/statistics & numerical data , Dementia/diagnosis , Health of Institutionalized Elderly , Mass Screening , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Cognitive assessment is a fundamental tool in centres for the elderly when planning individualized care and intervention. The Galician Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Sociedade Galega of Xerontoloxía and Xeriatría) has formed a Working Group on Cognitive and Neuropsychological Assessment, with the aim of studying the tools used and to identify the main challenges in this area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An exploratory study was conducted via an online questionnaire with Sociedade Galega of Xerontoloxía and Xeriatría members between December 2013 and January 2014. It was completed by 49 professionals, of whom 26 were professionals in psychology and 10 medical doctors. RESULTS: Consensus was found on the use of the MMSE as a screening tool, as well as the Global Deterioration Scale for dementia. There is a wide variation in the choice of general batteries of tests for the assessment of dementia (CAMCOG-R, ADAS-Cog, abbreviated Barcelona Test), and of the use of specific tests and a severe impairment battery. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of bias in the sector is suggested, with a high percentage of general practitioners using a few tools, and a small percentage using a large number of specific tools. The need for a consensus is stressed in order to facilitate assessment, objectify training needs, maximize the relationship between assessment and cognitive intervention, and provide tools to assess change.
Subject(s)
Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Dementia/diagnosis , Geriatric Assessment , Neuropsychological Tests , Aged , Geriatric Assessment/methods , Humans , Records , SpainABSTRACT
IntroducciónEl objetivo principal de este trabajo es realizar una aproximación al grado de adaptación de dos aplicaciones de psicoestimulación utilizadas en nuestro medio. Así mismo, a través de la observación de los problemas de uso de estas dos aplicaciones uso en una pequeña muestra de personas mayores, se elabora una tabla de requisitos mínimos que a nuestro juicio deberían cumplir. Finalmente, se presenta Telecognitio®, una aplicación para la estimulación cognitiva de los mayores que incorpora ciertas funcionalidades de interés.Material y métodosSe evalúa el uso de dos herramientas de intervención cognitiva sobre una muestra de sujetos mayores a través de un cuestionario elaborado al efecto. Se realiza un análisis descriptivo de los resultados obtenidos y se sugieren posibles relaciones entre los resultados y el nivel cognitivo del sujeto.ResultadosObservamos que las personas mayores, especialmente si tienen deterioro cognitivo, presentan dificultades en la comprensión de los enunciados que transmiten las instrucciones para las diferentes actividades. Así mismo, el tiempo para responder a las cuestiones planteadas parece ser insuficiente. Cuando la pantalla es táctil se producen errores, tanto de precisión como de mantenimiento de la presión, aunque el uso de este dispositivo resulte más intuitivo que el ratón convencional.ConclusionesLas aplicaciones computarizadas de valoración y estimulación cognitiva van a constituirse en herramientas de uso generalizado entre la población de personas mayores, por lo que sería conveniente adaptarlas mejorando su accesibilidad y usabilidad(AU)
IntroductionDespite of the huge technological advance in the field of computer-based cognitive interventions, very few applications have been designed to be used by the elderly.IntroductionThe main objective of this study was to assess the adaptability of two psycho-stimulation applications used in geriatrics. A further aim was to design a table of the minimum requirements to be met through the use of these applications in a small sample of elders. In addition, Telecognitio®an application with some interesting functionalitiesis presented.Material and methodsWe performed a pilot test of two cognitive intervention tools, which were evaluated by a sample of elderly people through a specifically designed questionnaire. A descriptive study of the results was performed, as well as of the possible correspondence between the subjects cognitive status and the results.ResultsThe results of this study indicate that, in general, elderly people and especially those with cognitive impairment had difficulties in understanding the instructions for the various activities, as well as little time to answer the questions. In the case of a touch screen, errors occurred, both due to accuracy and pulse time, although this device is more intuitive than the conventional mouse.ConclusionsComputer-based cognitive stimulation and evaluation applications will become widely used among the elderly. Therefore, these applications should be adapted for universal accessibility and usability(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Health Services Accessibility/organization & administration , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/instrumentation , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Cognitive Science/methods , Computer Simulation , Therapy, Computer-Assisted/education , Therapy, Computer-Assisted/methods , Therapy, Computer-Assisted/trends , Therapy, Computer-Assisted/instrumentation , Therapy, Computer-Assisted/organization & administration , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Despite of the huge technological advance in the field of computer-based cognitive interventions, very few applications have been designed to be used by the elderly. The main objective of this study was to assess the adaptability of two psycho-stimulation applications used in geriatrics. A further aim was to design a table of the minimum requirements to be met through the use of these applications in a small sample of elders. In addition, Telecognitio-an application with some interesting functionalities-is presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a pilot test of two cognitive intervention tools, which were evaluated by a sample of elderly people through a specifically designed questionnaire. A descriptive study of the results was performed, as well as of the possible correspondence between the subjects' cognitive status and the results. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that, in general, elderly people and especially those with cognitive impairment had difficulties in understanding the instructions for the various activities, as well as little time to answer the questions. In the case of a touch screen, errors occurred, both due to accuracy and pulse time, although this device is more intuitive than the conventional mouse. CONCLUSIONS: Computer-based cognitive stimulation and evaluation applications will become widely used among the elderly. Therefore, these applications should be adapted for universal accessibility and usability.
