Abstract
Viewing of artistic photos have been found to enhance the engagement of persons with dementia in
meaningful interactions, thus improving their social health and quality of life. Still, there is a lack of such
psychosocial interventions for people with more advanced dementia in nursing homes. In a recent smallscale pilot study, we (Theijsmeijer et al., 2018) explored the effects of a person-centred, photo-activity
using different kinds of artistic photos on people with moderate to severe dementia in nursing homes. The
experimental group was shown person-oriented photos (related to their personal interests, inventoried via
informal caregivers) while the control group was shown non-person-oriented photos. Although no
statistical significant differences in degree of social interaction and mood were found, calculation of effect
sizes showed that person-oriented photos seemed to have a more positive impact on these outcomes
(moderate to large effect sizes). It is possible that no significant differences were found due to the study’s
small sample size.
The current study builds upon Theijsmeijer et al.’s (2018) findings. It aims to develop a digital version of
the photo-activity intervention, to investigate its impact on social interaction, mood and quality of life of
people with advanced dementia in nursing homes, and to investigate the intervention’s impact on personcentred attitude and sense of competence in (in)formal caregivers. The intervention’s feasibility and
effectiveness will be investigated through a randomised controlled trial involving 150 nursing home
residents with dementia and their (in)formal carers, with three measurements (before/after 3-months
intervention, and follow-up). A process analysis will determine the facilitators and barriers to the
intervention’s implementation. It is expected that the residents will feel acknowledged as a unique person
with their own experiences, while their caregivers will develop a more person-centred attitude.
This study is funded by the EU and will be conducted within H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019 (DISTINCT; 813196)
meaningful interactions, thus improving their social health and quality of life. Still, there is a lack of such
psychosocial interventions for people with more advanced dementia in nursing homes. In a recent smallscale pilot study, we (Theijsmeijer et al., 2018) explored the effects of a person-centred, photo-activity
using different kinds of artistic photos on people with moderate to severe dementia in nursing homes. The
experimental group was shown person-oriented photos (related to their personal interests, inventoried via
informal caregivers) while the control group was shown non-person-oriented photos. Although no
statistical significant differences in degree of social interaction and mood were found, calculation of effect
sizes showed that person-oriented photos seemed to have a more positive impact on these outcomes
(moderate to large effect sizes). It is possible that no significant differences were found due to the study’s
small sample size.
The current study builds upon Theijsmeijer et al.’s (2018) findings. It aims to develop a digital version of
the photo-activity intervention, to investigate its impact on social interaction, mood and quality of life of
people with advanced dementia in nursing homes, and to investigate the intervention’s impact on personcentred attitude and sense of competence in (in)formal caregivers. The intervention’s feasibility and
effectiveness will be investigated through a randomised controlled trial involving 150 nursing home
residents with dementia and their (in)formal carers, with three measurements (before/after 3-months
intervention, and follow-up). A process analysis will determine the facilitators and barriers to the
intervention’s implementation. It is expected that the residents will feel acknowledged as a unique person
with their own experiences, while their caregivers will develop a more person-centred attitude.
This study is funded by the EU and will be conducted within H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019 (DISTINCT; 813196)
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 88 |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Oct 2020 |