Authors: Brennan, Laura¹; Giovannetti, Tania¹; Libon, David²; Bettcher, Brianne Magouirk¹; Duey, Katia¹

Source: Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, Volume 19, Number 4, August 2009 , pp. 562-582(21)

Publisher: Psychology Press, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

Everyday action performance is impaired as a consequence of dementia. Omissions (i.e., not performing task steps) are a frequent source of error in everyday tasks among dementia patients. External cues or notes are often suggested to improve everyday functioning and might specifically address omission errors; however, the efficacy of such strategies has not been evaluated. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of goal cues (i.e., reminders of everyday task objectives) for improving dementia patients' everyday action performance. Forty-four participants with mild to moderate dementia were administered the Naturalistic Action Test (NAT), a performance-based test that includes three everyday tasks. After participants indicated that they had completed each task, they were presented with a cue card restating the task goals. Videotapes were used to code task performance as well as responses to the cues. Most participants checked their work and showed significant improvement in task accomplishment/omission errors, but not commission errors, after the cues. However, effect sizes for the differences were small, and the proportion of cases in the impaired range did not differ before versus after the cues. Therefore, although statistically significant, we concluded that the goal cues did not meaningfully or clinically improve everyday functioning.

Keywords: Everyday action; Naturalistic action; Activities of daily living; Instrumental activities of daily living; Dementia

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09602010802405623

Affiliations: 1: Psychology Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 2: Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Publication date: 2009-08-01

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