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Abstract(s)
Introdução: As demências traduzem-se numa deterioração cognitiva e
comportamental progressiva e irreversível que compromete a comunicação dos
doentes, conduzindo a um maior isolamento social, alterações de humor e menor
qualidade de vida. Atualmente o programa Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) – uma
modalidade de estimulação cognitiva (EC) – consiste na intervenção não farmacológica
mais suportada pela evidência científica na demência ligeira e moderada, reconhecida
pelos seus benefícios na comunicação, interação social, cognição e qualidade de vida.
Neste estudo pretendemos averiguar o impacto da versão portuguesa do CST na
comunicação e cognição de idosos com demência institucionalizados e,
secundariamente, verificar a sua influência na ansiedade, depressão e qualidade de
vida.
Metodologia: A amostra deste estudo experimental, duplamente cego, foi
composta por 48 idosos com demência, aleatoriamente distribuídos pelos grupos
experimental (N=28) e de controlo (N=20). O primeiro grupo foi submetido ao CST
enquanto o segundo não foi alvo de intervenção. As medidas de outcome foram
aplicadas em dois momentos – no pré e pós-teste.
Resultados: Após a intervenção, o grupo experimental demonstrou melhorias
significativas na comunicação, especificamente nos itens prazer, humor, orientação,
conhecimento geral e capacidade de se envolver em jogos, e na sintomatologia ansiosa
e depressiva; porém, não foram verificadas diferenças significativas entre grupos em
nenhum dos domínios avaliados.
Conclusão: Apesar da importância e dos benefícios da EC se encontrarem bem
estabelecidos no contexto da demência, não foi possível confirmar a eficácia da versão
portuguesa do programa CST nos domínios avaliados, maioritariamente devido à
reduzida dimensão da amostra e ao baixo poder dos testes estatísticos utilizados. No
entanto, os resultados obtidos não deixam de sugerir a eficácia do CST nos domínios
da comunicação, da ansiedade e da depressão. A escassez de programas de EC
devidamente adaptados e validados para a população portuguesa justifica o investimento neste tipo de intervenção, cuja implementação deve ser convencionada
em contexto institucional e comunitário.
Introduction: Dementias are responsible for progressive and irreversible cognitive and behavioural deterioration which impair patients’ communication, increasing social isolation and driving to mood changes and low quality of life. Nowadays, the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy programme (CST) – a cognitive stimulation (CS) tool – is an evidence-based non-pharmacological intervention in dementia, widely recognized for its efficacy in mild to moderate stages of this pathology, leading to improvements in communication, social interaction, cognition and quality of life. The present study aims, primarily, to examine the impact of the Portuguese version of CST in communication and cognition of elderly adults with dementia in elderly care homes and, secondarily, verify its influence in patients’ anxiety, depression and quality of life. Method: In this double-blind experimental study, 48 older adults with dementia were randomly assigned to the experimental group (N=28) and control group (N=20). The first group underwent CST and the second received usual care. The outcome measures were administered in two moments – at pre and post-testing. Results: After the intervention, the experimental group improved significantly in communication, specifically in the items pleasure, humour, orientation, general knowledge and ability to participate in games, and in anxious and depressive symptoms; however, there were no significant differences between groups in any of the selected outcome measures. Conclusions: Despite CS’s importance and benefits being well established in dementia, it hasn’t been possible to confirm the efficacy of the Portuguese version of the CST programme in the assessed domains, mainly due to small sample size and lack of statistical power. Nevertheless, the results obtained do suggest the program’s efficacy in communication, anxiety and depression dimensions. The scarcity of well adapted and validated CS programmes to the Portuguese population justifies the investment in this type of intervention, which should be routinely offered in elderly care homes and in the community.
Introduction: Dementias are responsible for progressive and irreversible cognitive and behavioural deterioration which impair patients’ communication, increasing social isolation and driving to mood changes and low quality of life. Nowadays, the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy programme (CST) – a cognitive stimulation (CS) tool – is an evidence-based non-pharmacological intervention in dementia, widely recognized for its efficacy in mild to moderate stages of this pathology, leading to improvements in communication, social interaction, cognition and quality of life. The present study aims, primarily, to examine the impact of the Portuguese version of CST in communication and cognition of elderly adults with dementia in elderly care homes and, secondarily, verify its influence in patients’ anxiety, depression and quality of life. Method: In this double-blind experimental study, 48 older adults with dementia were randomly assigned to the experimental group (N=28) and control group (N=20). The first group underwent CST and the second received usual care. The outcome measures were administered in two moments – at pre and post-testing. Results: After the intervention, the experimental group improved significantly in communication, specifically in the items pleasure, humour, orientation, general knowledge and ability to participate in games, and in anxious and depressive symptoms; however, there were no significant differences between groups in any of the selected outcome measures. Conclusions: Despite CS’s importance and benefits being well established in dementia, it hasn’t been possible to confirm the efficacy of the Portuguese version of the CST programme in the assessed domains, mainly due to small sample size and lack of statistical power. Nevertheless, the results obtained do suggest the program’s efficacy in communication, anxiety and depression dimensions. The scarcity of well adapted and validated CS programmes to the Portuguese population justifies the investment in this type of intervention, which should be routinely offered in elderly care homes and in the community.
Description
Keywords
Demência Estimulação cognitiva Comunicação Cognição Dementia Cognitive stimulation Cognitive stimulation therapy Communication