Creative Arts Therapies in Rehabilitation.

Appreciation for the utility of creative arts therapy in rehabilitation is on the rise. The limitations of conventional approaches to address post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and co-occurring traumatic brain injury (TBI) is spurring the development and increased use of the creative arts therapies, especially in U.S. military healthcare systems. However, emerging applications of creative arts therapies in rehabilitation extend well beyond PTSD/TBI and military populations to span the continuum of care, from the intensive care unit, post-operative recovery unit, acute inpatient medical and surgical wards, outpatient clinics, and home health, as well as in traditional long-term care and psychiatric settings. Critical steps to more fully integrating creative arts therapies in rehabilitation include the following: 1) Incorporation of education about the creative arts therapies into the curricula across rehabilitation disciplines; 2) alteration of national and state policies to promote greater inclusion of the creative arts therapies as reimbursable treatments for a wide array of clinical diagnoses and conditions; and, 3) significant expansion of the creative arts therapies' evidence base: This can be achieved by increasing funding levels to encourage rigorously designed and controlled studies to determine the efficacy, populations, diagnoses and conditions, co-factors and the mechanisms of action of the creative arts therapies. The time has come for a concentrated effort from the community of rehabilitation professional associations, advocacy organizations, and practitioners to promote the advancement and inclusion of the creative arts therapies into appropriate clinical settings to optimize outcomes for patients.

A brief mindfulness-based intervention for stress, pain, emotion and attention regulation in military service members with mild traumatic brain injury.

AIM: The primary aim of this study was to conduct an open pilot clinical trial of a brief mindfulness-based intervention for persistent postconcussion symptoms that occur after mild traumatic brain injury in military service members. For many service members, operational tempo and other time constraints may prevent them from completing a standard mindfulness-based stress reduction course. Thus, this study sought to examine the effectiveness of a five-session intervention called mindfulness-based stress, pain, emotion, and attention regulation (MSPEAR). METHODS: Participants were active duty service members with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and persisting postconcussion symptoms, all of whom were recruited from an outpatient TBI rehabilitation program at a military treatment facility. Of the 38 service members that were initially enrolled, 25 completed the 5-session MSPEAR intervention, and 20 returned for a 5-week follow-up evaluation. Questionnaires assessing perceived stress, positive affect, pain interference and catastrophizing, sleep disturbances, perceived behavioral and attention regulation, self-efficacy and satisfaction with life were administered at preintervention, postintervention, and at 5-week follow-up intervals. Neuropsychological testing at preintervention and 5-week follow-up included performance validity measures, attention, working memory, and executive function measures. T-tests were run to compare for questionnaire measures at preintervention (Time 1) to postintervention (Time 2). Repeated analysis of variances were conducted to compare questionnaire and neuropsychological measures at Time 1, Time 2, and at Time 3 which is the 5-week follow-up. RESULTS: Improvements in perceived stress, positive affect, behavioral regulation, metacognition, sleep disturbance, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life were found immediately after the MSPEAR intervention and were maintained at the 5-week follow-up. Magnification and helplessness aspects of pain catastrophizing improved when comparing preintervention to the 5-week follow-up. Pain interference was not significantly different across study assessment times. Neuropsychological testing revealed improvements in sustained attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control when comparing preintervention to the 5-week follow-up assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The MSPEAR intervention appears to show promise as a brief and effective therapy for specific postconcussion symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury in military service members. Each of the components of MSPEAR including stress, pain catastrophizing, emotion and attention regulation showed improvements in this study, and bears further investigation in a larger scale, preferably randomized controlled trial in those active duty military service members who experience persisting symptoms after a mild traumatic brain injury.

Assessing the Clinical Utility of a Wearable Device for Physiological Monitoring of Heart Rate Variability in Military Service Members with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Introduction: Autonomic dysfunction has been implicated as a consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Heart rate variability (HRV) may be a viable measure of autonomic dysfunction that could enhance rehabilitative interventions for individuals with TBI. This pilot study sought to assess the feasibility and validity of using the Zeriscope™ platform system in a real-world clinical setting to measure HRV in active-duty service members with TBI who were participating in an intensive outpatient program. Methods: Twenty-five service members with a history of mild, moderate, or severe TBI were recruited from a military treatment facility. A baseline assessment was conducted in the cardiology clinic where point validity data were obtained by comparing a 5-min recording of a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) output against the Zeriscope platform data. Results: Compared with the ECG device, the Zeriscope device had a concordance coefficient (rc) of 0.16, falling below the standard deemed to represent acceptable accuracy in HR measurement (i.e., 0.80). Follow-up analyses excluding outliers did not significantly improve the concordance coefficient to an acceptable standard for the total participant sample. System Usability Survey responses showed that participants rated the Zeriscope system as easy to use and something that most people would learn to use quickly. Conclusions: This study demonstrated promise in ambulatory HRV measurement in a representative military TBI sample. Future research should include further refinement of such ambulatory devices to meet the specifications required for use in a military active-duty TBI population.

Network Analysis of Research on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in US Military Service Members and Veterans During the Past Decade (2010-2019).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate trends in the extant literature on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in military service members and veterans using network analysis based on a comprehensive search of original, peer-reviewed research articles involving human participants published between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019. Specifically, we employed network analysis to evaluate associations in the following areas: (1) peer-reviewed journals, (2) authors, (3) organizations/institutions, and (4) relevant key words. PARTICIPANTS: Included studies were published in peer-reviewed journals available on Web of Science database, using US military service members or veterans. DESIGN: Bibliometric network analytical review. MAIN MEASURES: Outcomes for each analysis included number of articles, citations, total link strength, and clusters. RESULTS: The top publishing journals were (1) Journal of Head Trauma and Rehabilitation, (2) Military Medicine, (3) Brain Injury, (4) Journal of Neurotrauma, and (5) Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. The top publishing authors were (1) French, (2) Lange, (3) Cooper, (4) Vanderploeg, and (5) Brickell. The top research institutions were (1) Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, (2) Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, (3) University of California San Diego, (4) Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and (5) Boston University. The top co-occurring key words in this analysis were (1) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), (2) persistent postconcussion symptoms (PPCS), (3) blast injury, (4) postconcussion syndrome (PCS), and (5) Alzheimer's disease. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this network analysis indicate a clear focus on veteran health, as well as investigations on chronic effects of mTBI. Research in civilian mTBI indicates that delaying treatment for symptoms and impairments related to mTBI may not be the most precise treatment strategy. Increasing the number of early, active, and targeted treatment trials in military personnel could translate to meaningful improvements in clinical practices for managing mTBI in this population.

A case analysis of service-member trauma processing related to art therapy within a military-intensive outpatient program.

OBJECTIVES: Art therapy has been widely used in clinical settings and has shown preliminary success in military trauma. This case study describes a mask-making art therapy directive facilitated by a board-certified art therapist as an adjunct to group posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment in a military-intensive outpatient program. METHODS: Described are clinical outcome measures, linguistic analysis of a personal journal, evaluation of this service-member's artwork, and experiences in the program. RESULTS: Mask-making, as a trauma-focused group-art therapy directive, expanded the understanding of treatment progress reflected in journal notes, mask imagery, and by a change in linguistic indices of trauma processing, despite an overall increase in PTSD symptoms as he confronted his traumatic experiences. He reported improvement in coping and successfully returned to full military duty following treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This case study suggests that art therapy and written narrative, combined with standardized self-report assessments, may more accurately indicate improvement in overall PTSD treatment.

Impact of Pre-Existing Migraine and Other Co-Morbid or Co-Occurring Conditions on Presentation and Clinical Course Following Deployment-Related Concussion.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation and early clinical course of a sample of deployed U.S. military service members following concussion, underscoring the impact of pre-existing migraine and other co-occurring conditions. It is important to obtain a comprehensive clinical history to identify evidence of underlying migraine and other health conditions which may contribute to an individual's presenting symptoms influencing early management and outcomes following concussion. Early outcome measures assessed include headache treatment response and fitness for return to duty. BACKGROUND: Acute concussion is reported to result in an array of somatic, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. It is well established that these symptoms are not specific for concussion and may result from exacerbation of pre-existing or underlying medical conditions and factors. Although most symptoms attributable to concussion resolve within days to weeks, there is evidence that persistent symptoms beyond that specific recovery time may be attributable to factors other than concussion. Military populations are at risk for a number of recognized co-morbid and co-occurring conditions, as well as special situational and psychosocial factors which may influence symptoms and clinical course following concussion. In addition, combat-related concussion frequently occurs in the setting of a blast or military vehicle accidents thus causing concurrent injuries where musculoskeletal injuries may contribute to the clinical presentation. The resultant acute stress reaction, secondary to the traumatic experience associated with concussion, may also cause or aggravate underlying psychological co-morbidities that may influence presenting symptoms. Prior studies identified co-morbidities associated with chronic post-concussive syndrome, which we find are also present during the early phase following deployment-related concussion, thereby influencing presentation and impacting recovery. This retrospective chart review was intended to demonstrate the presence and potential impact of co-morbid and co-occurring conditions contributing to symptoms following concussion, especially migraine due to its high prevalence among post-traumatic headaches. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed by the treating neurologist of 40 service members following concussion in the deployed environment. Clinical symptoms and co-morbid and co-occurring conditions including evidence of pre-existing migraine identified during comprehensive neurologic evaluations were collected. Both pre-deployment/pre-traumatic and post-traumatic headache features supporting migraine and early instituted headache management and treatment response are described. Rates of return to duty in this sample were also tabulated. RESULTS: Headaches were the most frequently reported acute symptom following concussion in this deployed service member population (38/40 patients [98%]), followed by insomnia, tinnitus, impaired concentration, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, impaired balance, depression, and hearing loss. Co-occurring acute injuries, acute stress reaction, and recent onset medication overuse were the most frequent co-occurring conditions identified by the treating neurologist as potentially contributing to the service member's presentation. Chronic co-morbidities identified included chronic headache, anxiety/depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Service members with 3 or more identified co-morbidities or co-occurring conditions were more likely to require evacuation from theater. Pre-deployment headaches were reported by 25/40 [63%] service members, with 5/40 [12.5%] reporting known prior personal history of migraine. Of those reporting pre-deployment headaches, 21/25 [84%] described migraine features and/or triggers, though most [(15/25) 60%] reported as infrequent. Daily post-traumatic headaches were frequent (26/38 [68%]) and associated with typical migraine features and/or triggers. Of those treated with triptans (16/40 patient [42%]), most (12/16 patient [75%]) showed positive treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: Concussion in the deployed settings does not occur in isolation, with co-morbid and co-occurring conditions being common. Presence of multiple co-morbidities appears to influence clinical course and overall recovery. Post-traumatic headaches are often phenotypically fully consistent with migraine, and appear related to pre-existing migraine if supported by detailed pre-deployment headache history suggesting same. Careful and comprehensive history taking and evaluation is invaluable in identifying associated conditions including migraine, potentially helping clinicians with more accurate symptom attribution, diagnoses, and improved clinical management following acute concussion.

Toward spanning the quality chasm: an examination of team functioning measures.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of 5 measures of team functioning on patient outcomes. DESIGN: Observational, exploratory, measurement. Team functioning surveys and patient outcomes collected 1 year apart in a clinical trial were analyzed. The findings are discussed in context of the domains of team functioning, team effectiveness, and quality improvement. SETTING: 27 Veterans Affairs medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: Staff (t1: N=356; t2: N=273) on inpatient teams and patients (t1: N=4266; t2: N=3213) treated by the teams. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Five measures of team functioning (Physician Engagement, Shared Leadership, Supervisor Team Support, Teamness, and Team Effectiveness scales) and 3 measures of patient outcomes (functional improvement, discharge destination, and length of stay) were assessed at 2 time points with hierarchical generalized linear models to evaluate the association between team functioning measures and changes in patient outcomes. RESULTS: Associations (P<.05) between team functioning measures and patient outcomes were found for 3 of the 15 analyses over the study period. Higher Physician Engagement scale score was associated with lower length of stay (P=.017), and increased scores on Teamness and Team Effectiveness scales correlated with higher rates of community discharge (P=.044 and .049, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory analysis revealed trends that team functioning corresponds with patient outcomes in clinically relevant patterns. An increase in community discharge and a decrease in length of stay were associated with higher scores of team functioning. Here, we find evidence that modifiable attributes of team functioning have a measurable effect on patient outcomes. Such findings are promising and support the need for further research on team effectiveness.

Incidence rates of dementia, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia in the Japanese American population in Seattle, WA: the Kame Project.

There are few studies on the incidence of dementia in representative minority populations in the United States; however, no population-based study has been conducted on Japanese American women. We identified 3045 individuals aged 65+ with at least 1 parent of Japanese descent living in King County, WA in the period 1992 to 1994, of whom 1836 were dementia-free and were examined every 2 years (1994 to 2001) to identify incident cases of all dementias, Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and other dementias. Cox regression was used to examine associations with age, sex, years of education, and apolipoprotein (APOE)-ε4. Among 173 incident cases of dementia, the overall rate was 14.4/1000/y, with rates being slightly higher among women (15.9/1000) than men (12.5/1000). Rates roughly doubled every 5 years for dementia and AD; the age trend for VaD and other dementias was less consistent. Sex was not significantly related to incidence of dementia or its subtypes in adjusted models. There was a trend for an inverse association with increasing years of education. APOE-ε4 was a strong risk factor for all dementias [hazard ratio (HR)=2.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.88-4.46], AD (HR=3.27; 95% CI, 2.03-5.28), and VaD (HR=3.33; 95% CI, 1.34-8.27). This study is the first to report population-based incidence rates for both Japanese American men and women.

Measuring team process for quality improvement.

BACKGROUND: Even though team care is pivotal to stroke rehabilitation, we have few tools to measure team process. Process measures of team functioning would benefit stroke rehabilitation outcomes and quality improvement (QI). OBJECTIVE: To improve measures of team process and evaluate their potential for use in rehabilitation research and QI. METHODS: We use item response theory (IRT) to analyze and revise selected scales from the Team Functioning Survey administrated to rehabilitation staff (n=365 at 31 VA hospitals) as part of a national clinical trial (NCT00237757). Revised scales were evaluated for reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and validity (correlations, predictions of patient outcomes). RESULTS: Eight scales (60 items) were selected from the TFS for analyses based on their specificity to rehabilitation and potential utility in process improvement. Factor analyses supported the dropping of 2 scales and the combining of 2 scales. As indicated by the IRT analyses of scale psychometric properties, poor performing scale items were dropped and item response categories modified needed areas for further development were identified. Cronbach's alpha for the resultant best 5 scales was good. Intercorrelations varied among scales but were mostly in the moderate ranges. Two of the scales predicted patient outcomes of mFIM™ gain or discharge disposition. CONCLUSION: The analyses resulted in measures of 5 central components of team functioning: physician support, shared leadership, supervisor team support, teamness, and team effectiveness. IRT enables the scales to be refined and strengthened for use in outcome research and QI. The scales are proposed as another step toward understanding and enhancing team process.

Post-acute polytrauma rehabilitation and integrated care of returning veterans: toward a holistic approach.

UNLABELLED: Throughout the history of war, exposure to combat has been associated with clusters of physical and psychological symptoms labeled in various ways, from "hysteria" to "shell shock" in World War I to "polytrauma" in Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF). OBJECTIVE: To describe the historical conceptualizations of combat injury and the ways they are relevant to developing current rehabilitation strategies, discuss the symptom complex presented by OEF/OIF veterans, and describe key elements and principles of holistic, integrated care for post-acute OEF/OIF veterans. CONCLUSIONS: A conceptualization of rehabilitation recognizing a final common pathway of functional disability and suffering is proposed, and both systematic and treatment-specific aspects at the core of a veteran-centered holistic approach are discussed.

Differential SPECT activation patterns associated with PASAT performance may indicate frontocerebellar functional dissociation in chronic mild traumatic brain injury.

UNLABELLED: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) often complain of cognitive fatigue during the chronic recovery phase. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a complex psychologic measure that may demonstrate subtle deficiencies in higher cognitive functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the brain activation of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with PASAT in patients with mild TBI to explore mechanisms for the cognitive fatigue. METHODS: Two groups consisting of 15 patients with mild TBI and 15 healthy control subjects underwent (99m)Tc-ethylene cysteine dimer SPECT at rest and during PASAT on a separate day. Cortical rCBF was extracted using a 3-dimensional stereotactic surface projection and statistically analyzed to identify areas of activation, which were compared with PASAT performance scores. RESULTS: Image analysis demonstrated a difference in the pattern of activation between patients with mild TBI and healthy control subjects. Healthy control subjects activated the superior temporal cortex (Brodmann area [BA] 22) bilaterally, the precentral gyrus (BA 9) on the left, and the precentral gyrus (BA 6) and cerebellum bilaterally. Patients with mild TBI demonstrated a larger area of supratentorial activation (BAs 9, 10, 13, and 46) but a smaller area of activation in the cerebellum, indicating frontocerebellar dissociation. CONCLUSION: Patients with mild TBI and cognitive fatigue demonstrated a different pattern of activation during PASAT. Frontocerebellar dissociation may explain cognitive impairment and cognitive fatigue in the chronic recovery phase of mild traumatic brain injury.

The Veterans Health Administration's (VHA's) Polytrauma System of Care for mild traumatic brain injury: costs, benefits, and controversies.

The Veterans Health Administration's (VHA's) Polytrauma System of Care, developed in response to a new cohort of patients back from Iraq and Afghanistan, is described with particular focus on the assessment and treatment of mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI). The development of systemwide TBI screening within the VHA has been an ambitious and historic undertaking. As with any population-wide screening tool, there are benefits and costs associated with it. The purpose of this article is to identify and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the VHA's TBI clinical reminder and subsequent evaluation and treatment processes. Complicating factors such as increased media attention and other contextual factors are discussed.

Older adults and neuropsychological rehabilitation following acquired brain injury.

The literature related to neurorehabilitation methods specific to older adults is now emerging, the timing of which is important given the epidemiology of acquired brain injury in this population. Examined are epidemiological characteristics of acquired brain injury, with a focus on traumatic brain injury and stroke. Principles of geriatric neurorehabilitation are proposed by using a Neo-Lurian framework, and employing the PASS model of brain-behavior relationship forwarded by J. P. Das. Discussed are specific issues and strategies of geriatric neurorehabilitation by removing excess disability that complicates acquired brain injury. These include addressing depression, sleep disturbance, chronic pain, and social support. Restorative interventions may now also appear as a part of geriatric neurorehabilitation practices. A focus on team functioning as a critical contributor to functional outcomes in those older adults with acquired brain injury is presented along with future directions that capitalize upon the ideals of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

Team training and stroke rehabilitation outcomes: a cluster randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether a team training intervention in stroke rehabilitation is associated with improved patient outcomes. DESIGN: A cluster randomized trial of 31 rehabilitation units comparing stroke outcomes between intervention and control groups. SETTING: Thirty-one Veterans Affairs medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 237 clinical staff on 16 control teams and 227 staff on 15 intervention teams. Stroke patients (N=487) treated by these teams before and after the intervention. INTERVENTION: The intervention consisted of a multiphase, staff training program delivered over 6 months, including: an off-site workshop emphasizing team dynamics, problem solving, and the use of performance feedback data; and action plans for process improvement; and telephone and videoconference consultations. Control and intervention teams received site-specific team performance profiles with recommendations to use this information to modify team process. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three patient outcomes: functional improvement as measured by the change in motor items of the FIM instrument, community discharge, and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: For both the primary (stroke only) and secondary analyses (all patients), there was a significant difference in improvement of functional outcome between the 2 groups, with the percentage of stroke patients gaining more than a median FIM gain of 23 points increasing significantly more in the intervention group (difference in increase, 13.6%; P=.032). There was no significant difference in LOS or rates of community discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke patients treated by staff who participated in a team training program were more likely to make functional gains than those treated by staff receiving information only. Team based clinicians are encouraged to examine their own team. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00237757).

The interdisciplinary team and polytrauma rehabilitation: prescription for partnership.

Optimal outcomes for polytrauma survivors depend on the integration of complex medical, psychosocial, financial, educational, and vocational resources across diverse specialties and multiple medical centers, programs, and organizations and all in a setting of high public visibility and family involvement. Well-functioning teams are critical to service integration, and teams are more effective in supportive hospital environments. Here, we offer a model of team functioning relevant to polytrauma and outline a team training program to improve services. Furthermore, we propose a partnership among the team, hospital administrators, and national leaders and with patients and their families. Integrated care requires partnerships among the various stakeholders, and those working in polytrauma have a unique opportunity to create an updated paradigm of the team approach responsive to the complexities of contemporary health care.

Utility of Treatment Implementation methods in clinical trial with rehabilitation teams.

Clinical trials of rehabilitation interventions pose unique challenges to researchers. Treatments can be technically complex, often requiring a multidisciplinary team of professions. This article demonstrates the application of Treatment Implementation (TI) methods in a rehabilitation team-training intervention conducted with 29 team leaders (12 medical doctors, 4 physical therapists, 3 speech-language pathologists, 2 occupational therapists, 3 kinesiotherapists, 2 registered nurses, 1 social worker, 1 program coordinator, and 1 administrator) from 15 Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals. We describe the intervention along with the influence of three TI categories (delivery, receipt, and enactment) on the design and implementation of the team-training intervention. Positive findings from the use of TI methods include (1) consistent and accurate presentation of intervention components and (2) evidence of study participants' receipt and enactment of intervention strategies.

Team functioning and patient outcomes in stroke rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between rehabilitation team functioning and stroke patient outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Veterans Administration (VA) inpatient and subacute rehabilitation units. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-six VA rehabilitation teams, including 530 rehabilitation team members from 6 disciplines (medicine, nursing, social work, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology) and 1688 stroke patients treated by the teams. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ten scales assessing team member perceptions of team functioning (communication, perceived effectiveness, physician involvement, physician support, teamness, utility of quality information, innovation, interprofessional relationships, order and organization, task orientation) and 3 primary patient outcome variables-functional improvement, discharge home, and length of rehabilitation stay (LOS). RESULTS: Three of the 10 measures of team functioning were significantly associated with patient functional improvement ( P <.05): task orientation, order and organization, and utility of quality information. One measure of team functioning-effectiveness-was significantly associated with LOS ( P <.05). None of the team variables predicted discharge destination. Aspects of team functioning that were important to outcomes differed depending on the outcome of interests. Efforts directed toward improving team activities and relationships, including collaborative planning and problem solving and the use of feedback information, may enhance rehabilitation treatment effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics of team functioning predict selected rehabilitation outcomes.

Similarities and differences in attitudes toward long-term care between Japanese Americans and Caucasian Americans.

The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes toward the use of long-term care between older Japanese Americans (n = 1,244) and older Caucasian Americans (n = 1,354). When presented with a hypothetical situation in which they have dementia, 39% of older Japanese Americans and 42% of older Caucasians intended to be cared for at home, whereas 53% versus 38%, respectively, intended to use nursing home care (P <.001). If the hypothetical situation was hip fracture, 81% of older Japanese Americans and 72% of older Caucasians intended to be cared for at home, with 13% of both groups intending to use nursing home care (P = NS). The subjects' perceptions of what their families, friends, ministers, and communities would want them to choose differed, with more uncertainty among Caucasians (P <.001). For provision of home care, Japanese Americans were more likely to rely on loved ones than Caucasians, who were more likely to rely on paid providers. Multivariate logistic regression showed ethnicity to be independently related to intention to use nursing home care in the dementia scenario, controlling for demographic variables. Being married lowered the odds of intending to use nursing homes in any situation. We conclude that Caucasian Americans intend to use paid home health care at higher rates than Japanese Americans if they become disabled by dementia. Japanese Americans demonstrated more certainty about the influences of others on their opinions, suggesting a more stable cultural norm in this population, and intended to use more nursing home care in the event of permanent debility (dementia).