PARTICIPANTS’ EXPERIENCES OF MULTIDOMAIN LIFESTYLE-BASED INTERVENTION (FINGER) TO PREVENT COGNITIVE DECLINE

Abstract

FINGER is a multicenter randomized controlled trial (NCT01041989) that showed beneficial effects on cognition for a 2-year multidomain lifestyle intervention (diet, exercise, cognitive training, vascular risk monitoring) versus control (general health advice). The multidomain FINGER intervention required intensive participation for two years. This study investigated how participants in the intervention group experienced this intensive intervention. Feedback regarding intensive intervention was gathered from all participants who received intervention (n=631) using structured questionnaires. Questions focused on the common experiences, benefits and usefulness of the intervention. Totally 537 persons answered the questionnaire. Only 44% (n=236) of persons receiving intensive intervention believed they belonged to the intervention group (39% of women, 49% of men, p=0.08). A total of 181 persons (34%) believed that they belonged to the control group and 117 persons were uncertain. 80% of participants (77% of men, 83% of women, p=0.239) reported that it was nice to meet other participants during the intervention sessions, and 53% (men 50%, women 57%, p=0.313) reported that meeting other participants motivated themselves to participate. Of the intervention components (physical activity, nutritional counselling, cognitive training), physical activity component was perceived most useful. Of persons who received 2-year intensive intervention, 97% planned to follow the nutritional instructions after the study, and 93% felt that they had received sufficient information in order to continue physical activity training independently. The results showed that participants perceived intensive 2-year multidomain lifestyle intervention useful, and most participants intended to continue healthy lifestyle after the intervention. Most participants did not even see themselves participating in an intensive lifestyle intervention. This gives positive sign that lifestyle modifications used in the FINGER trial were not perceived too stressful, and thus could be implemented into general health care.