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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/NCT04385797 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/26431

BackgroundInformation and communication technologies are promising tools to increase the quality of life of people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and that of their caregivers. However, there are barriers to their use associated with sociodemographic factors and negative attitudes, as well as inadequate knowledge about technologies. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze technophilia (attitudes toward new technologies) and the use of smartphones and tablets along with associated factors in people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers. MethodsData from the first visit of the Support Monitoring and Reminder for Mild Dementia (SMART4MD) randomized multicenter clinical trial were used for this analysis. Data were obtained from two European countries, Spain and Sweden, and from three centers: Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa (Catalonia, Spain), Servicio Andaluz de Salud (Andalusia, Spain), and the Blekinge Institute of Technology (Sweden). Participants with a score between 20 and 28 in the Mini Mental State Examination, with memory problems (for more than 6 months), and who were over the age of 55 years were included in the study, along with their caregivers. The bivariate Chi square and Mann-Whitney tests, and multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. ResultsA total of 1086 dyads were included (N=2172). Overall, 299 (27.53%) of people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment had a diagnosis of dementia. In addition, 588 (54.14%) of people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment reported using a smartphone almost every day, and 106 (9.76%) used specific apps or software to support their memory. Among the caregivers, 839 (77.26%) used smartphones and tablets almost every day, and 181 (16.67%) used specific apps or software to support their memory. The people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment showed a lower level of technophilia in comparison to that of their caregivers after adjusting for confounders (B=0.074, P=.02) with differences in technology enthusiasm (B=0.360, P

BackgroundThe public health emergency of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is rapidly evolving worldwide; some countries, including Spain, have implemented restrictive measures. Populations that are vulnerable to this outbreak and its physical and mental health effects include community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. Telehealth is a potential tool to deliver health care and decrease exposure risk. ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to explore the impact of confinement on the health and well-being of community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, to provide television-based and telephone-based health and social support, and to study the effects of a television-based assistive integrated technology, TV-AssistDem (TeleVision-based ASSistive Integrated Service to supporT European adults living with mild DEMentia or mild cognitive impairment). MethodsA telephone-based survey was administered in Spain to 93 participants in the TV-AssistDem clinical trial from March 25 to April 6, 2020. ResultsOf the respondents, 60/93 (65%) were women. The mean age was 73.34 (SD 6.07), and 69/93 (74%) lived accompanied. Lockdown measures forced 17/93 respondents (18%) to change their living arrangements. Health status was found to be optimal in 89/93 respondents (96%), with no COVID-19 symptoms. Grocery and pharmacy outings were performed by family members of 68/93 participants (73%); 57 (61%) reported overall well-being, and 65 (70%) maintained their sleep quality. However, participants living alone reported greater negative feelings and more sleeping problems. Regarding leisure activities, 53/93 respondents (57%) took walks, 32 (35%) played memory games, 55 (60%) watched television, and 91 (98%) telephoned relatives. 58/93 (64%) respondents reported accessing moderate or too much COVID-19 information, 89 (97%) received it from television, and 56 (62%) stated that their understanding of the information was extreme. 39/93 (39%) respondents had contacted health and social services, while 29 (31%) requested information regarding these services during the telephone call. There were no significant differences in health and well-being between the intervention and control groups. Respondents with TV-AssistDem performed more memory exercises (24/93, 52% vs 8/93, 17.4%; P

Whilst there is evidence of the value of museums for art psychotherapy, evidence about online groups to improve mental health recovery is still scarce. The aim was to assess the impact on mental health recovery of an online museum-based recovery-oriented art psychotherapy group. The group was designed to help adults under the care of a UK community mental health team with their journey of mental health recovery. The group consisted of six, weekly online sessions and used the collections of two local museums. Quantitative outcome measures and qualitative feedback were used to evaluate the group. Five women participated in the group, and four in the evaluation. Generic wellbeing after each session was rated 4 out of 5. Participants scored higher in the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (33.25 vs. 42) and a Visual Numerical Recovery Scale (3 vs. 3.25) after participating in the group. Feeling supported was what participants liked most and found most helpful, and they liked the short duration of the group least. Half found the online setting preferable to face-to-face, and all felt that the museum focus was inspirational, and enjoyed the artmaking. Participants gained a better understanding of their recovery journey and were able to express their emotions better. This group contributed towards participants' mental health recovery and the museum focus was valued by them. The evaluation findings encourage further exploration of this way of working. This article reports on the evaluation of an online art psychotherapy group for adults who were under the care of a UK National Health Service community mental health team. The group aimed to help participants to move on in their recovery journeys, and used photographs and videos of objects and artworks from two local museums as inspiration. Participants completed questionnaires and gave written feedback which was used to assess changes before and after participating in the group, and to find out how the participants felt about the group. The group consisted of six sessions, once a week. Five women participated in it, and four of these contributed towards the evaluation. Participants' sense of wellbeing after each session was high, and recovery scores improved after participating in the group. They valued feeling supported most of all, but wanted the group to have been longer. Half of them liked working online better than face-to-face, and all found the museum objects helpful and enjoyed the artmaking. All group members reported that the group helped them to understand their recovery journey and express their emotions better. In conclusion, this group contributed towards participants' mental health recovery and the museum focus was valued by them. The evaluation findings suggest that it would be worth researching this way of working. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Though the evidence of the role of the arts in mental health is growing, no systematic review has focused on the impact of art groups in non‐clinical settings in the process of recovery following the CHIME framework. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of engaging in community‐based art groups in mental health recovery. Method: A search in five electronic databases for relevant research using quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods published between 2000 and 2019 identified nine eligible studies. Results: While there was great methodological heterogeneity, most studies were qualitative, used visual arts, facilitated by artists and assessed by mental health nurses, and took place in community locations or artistic venues. Quantitative outcomes, though few, provided evidence of increased well‐being, and qualitative outcomes corresponded mostly with the recovery process of Connectedness. Additional outcomes related to the settings were a sense of safety and to the intervention: self‐expression, development of skills and achievements, and the impact of final exhibitions and peer leadership. Discussion: Studies should aim at prospective designs following mixed methods approaches, with larger and gender‐sensitive samples, control groups and follow‐up assessments, and evaluate cost‐effectiveness. Implications for practice: Community‐based art groups which increase well‐being and promote connectedness should be key in recovery‐action planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization encourages mental health services to adopt a strategic intersectoral approach by acknowledging the potential of the arts and the value of culture on the process of mental health recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of participatory arts in museums on mental health recovery. A quasi‐experimental, pre‐post and multicentre study was carried out. By using a mixed methods evaluation at baseline and at 3 months, quantitative outcome measures were used to assess the changes in recovery and social support and qualitative interviews to explore the self‐perceived impact on five processes of recovery. One hundred mental health service users participated for 3 years in the face‐to‐face programme RecuperArte, of which the data of 54 were analysed. The results indicate a significant increase in recovery measured with the QPR‐15‐SP (42 vs. 44; p = 0.034) and almost significant in functional social support measured with the DUKE‐UNC (41.50 vs. 43.50; p = 0.052), with almost large (r = 0.29) and medium (r = 0.26) effect sizes, respectively. Participants perceived mostly an impact on the recovery process of Meaning in life 30/54 (55.56%), Hope and optimism about the future 29/54 (53.7%) and Connectedness 21/54 (38.89%), followed by Identity 6/54 (11.11%) and Empowerment 5/54 (9.26%). The findings contribute to the growing evidence of the potential of the arts as a therapeutic tool, the value of museums as therapeutic spaces and the role of nurses in intersectoral coordination, between the mental health and cultural sectors, as facilitators and researchers of these evidence‐based practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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