Cognitive Outcomes During COVID-19 Confinement Among Older People and Their Caregivers Using Technologies for Dementia: Protocol for an Observational Cohort Study.

Jessica Marian Goodman-Casanova,Amanda Vega-Nuñez,Jose Guzman-Parra,Esperanza Varela-Moreno,Elena Dura-Perez,Antonio Cuesta-Vargas,Gloria Guerrero-Pertiñez,Fermin Mayoral-Cleries,Pilar Barnestein-Fonseca

doi:10.2196/26431

Abstract

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to worldwide implementation of unprecedented restrictions to control its rapid spread and mitigate its impact. The Spanish government has enforced social distancing, quarantine, and home confinement measures. Such restrictions on activities of daily life and separation from loved ones may lead to social isolation and loneliness with health-related consequences among community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and their caregivers. Additionally, inadequate access to health care and social support services may aggravate chronic conditions. Home-based technological interventions have emerged for combating social isolation and loneliness, while simultaneously preventing the risk of virus exposure.ObjectiveThe aim of this cohort study is to explore, analyze, and determine the impact of social isolation on (1) cognition, quality of life, mood, technophilia, and perceived stress among community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and on the caregiver burden; (2) access to and utilization of health and social care services; and (3) cognitive, social, and entertainment-related uses of information and communication technologies.MethodsThis study will be conducted in Málaga (Andalucía, Spain). In total 200 dyads, consisting of a person with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and his/her informal caregiver, will be contacted by telephone. Potential respondents will be participants of the following clinical trials: support, monitoring, and reminder technology for mild dementia (n=100) and television-based assistive integrated service to support European adults living with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment (n=100).ResultsAs of May 2021, a total of 153 participants have been enrolled and assessed during COVID-19 confinement, of whom 67 have been assessed at 6 months of enrollment. Changes in the mean values of the variables will be analyzed relative to baseline findings of previous studies with those during and after confinement, using repeated-measures analysis of variance or the nonparametric Friedman test, as appropriate. The performance of multivariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to introduce potential covariates will also be considered. Values of 95% CI will be used.ConclusionsIf our hypothesis is accepted, these findings will demonstrate the negative impact of social isolation owing to COVID-19 confinement on cognition, quality of life, mood, and perceived stress among community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia, the impact on technophilia, caregiver burden, the access to and utilization of health and social care services, and the cognitive, social, and entertainment-related use of information and communication technologies during and after COVID-19 confinement.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04385797; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04385797International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/26431

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced government authorities worldwide to implement unprecedented restrictions to control its rapid spread and mitigate its impact [1]
If our hypothesis is accepted, these findings will demonstrate the negative impact of social isolation owing to COVID-19 confinement on cognition, quality of life, mood, and perceived stress among community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia, the impact on technophilia, caregiver burden, the access to and utilization of health https://www.researchprotocols.org/2021/5/e26431
This home-confinement by restricting movement to carry out activities of daily life and social distancing from loved ones may be a challenging and unpleasant experience for those who undergo it, leading them to experience social isolation and loneliness and having health-related consequences

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced government authorities worldwide to implement unprecedented restrictions to control its rapid spread and mitigate its impact [1]. In response to the outbreak, Spain declared, by royal decree (463/2020), a national emergency, with the exceptional measure of a nationwide lockdown enforcing social distancing, quarantining of those exposed to the virus, and home confinement of those who remain healthy, while allowing only essential outings [2] This home-confinement by restricting movement to carry out activities of daily life and social distancing from loved ones may be a challenging and unpleasant experience for those who undergo it, leading them to experience social isolation and loneliness and having health-related consequences. The Spanish government has enforced social distancing, quarantine, and home confinement measures Such restrictions on activities of daily life and separation from loved ones may lead to social isolation and loneliness with health-related consequences among community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and their caregivers. Home-based technological interventions have emerged for combating social isolation and loneliness, while simultaneously preventing the risk of virus exposure

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion