Delivering Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Virtually: Developing and Field-Testing a New Framework.

Luke Perkins,Emily Fisher,Ruizhi Dai,Gloria Hy Wong,Joshua Stott,Daniel Mograbi,Cleusa P Ferri,Aimee Spector,Claire Rooney,Nirupama Natarajan,Cerne Felstead,Sridhar Vaitheswaran

doi:10.2147/cia.s348906

Abstract

PurposeThis feasibility and pilot study aimed to develop and field-test a 14-session virtual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (vCST) programme for people living with dementia, developed as a result of services moving online during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe vCST protocol was developed using the existing group CST manual, through stakeholder consultation with people living with dementia, caregivers, CST group facilitators and dementia service managers. This protocol was then field-tested with 10 groups of people living with dementia in the Brazil, China (Hong Kong), India, Ireland and the UK, and feedback on the protocol was gathered from 14 facilitators.ResultsField testing in five countries indicated acceptability to group facilitators and participants. Feedback from these groups was used to refine the developed protocol. The final vCST protocol is proposed, including session materials for delivery of CST over videoconferencing and a framework for offering CST virtually in global settings.ConclusionvCST is a feasible online intervention for many people living with dementia. We recommend that it is offered to those unable to access traditional in-person CST for health reasons, lack of transport or COVID-19 restrictions. Further research is needed to explore if participant outcomes are comparable to in-person CST groups.

Highlights

There are 55 million people living with dementia across the globe so there is a significant need to develop interventions that tackle the physical, mental, social and financial impacts of the condition.[1]
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is the best-established psychological intervention for people living with dementia and has demonstrated benefits in relation to cognition, quality of life and overall cost-effectiveness.[2]
This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a new virtual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (vCST) protocol for people living with dementia through stakeholder consultation and feedback from 14 facilitators following field-testing in the Brazil, China (Hong Kong), India, Ireland, and the United Kingdom (UK)

Summary

Introduction

There are 55 million people living with dementia across the globe so there is a significant need to develop interventions that tackle the physical, mental, social and financial impacts of the condition.[1] With no treatments that prevent the progressive neurological deterioration resulting from dementia, the need for supportive interventions is pressing. Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is the best-established psychological intervention for people living with dementia and has demonstrated benefits in relation to cognition, quality of life and overall cost-effectiveness.[2] CST was developed by Spector et al.[3] as a brief, 14-session face-to-face intervention for people living with dementia, comprised of group activities which stimulate cognition including memory and language. Dovepress psychosocial intervention for dementia.[4] Culturally adapted versions of CST have been successfully implemented across the globe and CST is recommended internationally for people with early-stage dementia.[5,6,7]

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