Cross-national comparisons of the Cambridge Cognitive Examination-revised: the CAMCOG-R: results from the European Harmonization Project for Instruments in Dementia.

BACKGROUND: Transnational and psychometrically appropriate versions of instruments used in the diagnosis of dementia are essential for comparing information between different countries. The Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of the Elderly incorporates a brief neuropsychological test battery, Cambridge Cognitive Examination (recently revised version), which provides objective data on performance across a number of cognitive domains. OBJECTIVE: To harmonise the Cambridge Cognitive Examination between seven European countries. METHOD: 40 patients with probable or possible Alzheimer's disease of each of the seven countries were administered the Cambridge Cognitive Examination. The Nurse Observation Scale for Geriatrics was used to assess concordance between cognitive and behavioural measures. RESULTS: Only small differences between the various Cambridge Cognitive Examination versions were found, and patterns of correlation between Cambridge Cognitive Examination and the Nurse Observation Scale for Geriatrics were consistent. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the harmonisation of the Cambridge Cognitive Examination was successful.

Effects of emotion-oriented care on work-related outcomes of professional caregivers in homes for elderly persons.

OBJECTIVES: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on the effects of emotion-oriented care on professional caregivers in homes for elderly persons. Emotion-oriented care is used in the care for cognitively impaired elderly persons and is mainly based on the validation approach. METHODS: Sixteen homes for the aged were randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. Three hundred professional caregivers were included in the study. The eight intervention homes received a training program in emotion-oriented care. In the eight control homes, usual care was continued. Measurements about job satisfaction, burnout, and sick leave were performed at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Modest positive effects were found in favor of the intervention group. These related to various aspects of job satisfaction and burnout. The effects were not very consistent over time. No differences in sick leave were found. DISCUSSION: From this study, as well as other studies in this field, no strong effects were found of emotion-oriented care on work-related outcomes in professional caregivers. Additional research is therefore needed. In these new studies, special attention should be given to the optimization of the implementation process of emotion-oriented care programs.