Acceptance of psychosocial bridging measures in context of dementia.

Participants from an outpatient treatment program for cognitive disorders have been offered bridging measures because of limited access to the outpatient clinic during a Covid-19-caused lock-down. The aim of this study was to assess perceived stress, acceptance, and appreciation of the measures among patients and their caregivers compared to the previous bridging measure. Forty participants were offered treatment in person or online depending on their cognitive performance level. To evaluate acceptance, data collected from clinical routine was incorporated into a treatment observation. The evaluation of bridging measures by 25 participants was positive. Perceived stress was moderate to high among participants and has increased significantly compared to previous special treatment. Perceived stress in older patients had increased over the course of the pandemic. Bridging measures represented a treatment alternative and may offer previously untapped potential for location-independent psychosocial treatments in order to ameliorate both the patients' and their caregivers' convenience.

[Acceptance by and evaluation of unidirectional hearing systems by patients in outpatient and (partial) inpatient geriatric psychiatric care]. / Akzeptanz und Bewertung unidirektionaler Höranlagen im Rahmen ambulanter sowie (teil-)stationärer gerontopsychiatrischer Versorgung.

AIM OF STUDY: The aim of the present study was to investigate the use and subjective benefit of specific temporary hearing-improvement measures (unidirectional hearing aids) in hearing-impaired, geriatric psychiatric patients. Simultaneously, employees evaluated the handling and acceptance of the hearing-improving measures. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between October 2022 and July 2023, subjective hearing ability and use of conventional hearing aids were recorded in outpatients and in those in partial inpatient care (n=151) based on a self-assessment questionnaire. After using unidirectional hearing aids in diagnostics and treatment for four to six weeks, the hearing ability of 21 patients who had not used the hearing-improving measures was surveyed again and the experiences of active users (n=34) and employees (n=24) with the hearing-improving measures were analyzed via questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 151 included patients (79.2 years, 62.1% female), 147 patients and 24 employees (79.2% female) took part in the study. Subjective hearing impairments were reported by 50 patients (34.0%). The hearing of 93 patients (63.2%) had already been assessed once. Treatment with conventional hearing aids was recommended for 34 of those surveyed (23.1%). Likewise, 34 patients (23.1%) took advantage of the offer of hearing-improving measures. All 34 users and all participating employees rated the hearing-improving measures used as mostly positive. CONCLUSION: Hearing impairment in geriatric psychiatric patients is common and often not adequately treated with conventional hearing aids, yet hearing-improving measures are only used to a limited extent. Mostly positive results among the users of hearing-improving measures favor their implementation in patients in routine outpatient and (partial) inpatient geriatric psychiatric care.