Individualized Cognition-Action intervention to prevent behavioral disturbances and functional decline in institutionalized older adults: a randomized pilot trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an individualized Cognition-Action (CA) intervention to reduce behavioral disturbances in severely deconditioned institutionalized old adults. DESIGN: 12 weeks randomized pilot trial of either individualized Cognition-Action program (n = 24) or routine medical care as control (C, n = 25). SETTING: Long-term care (LTC) of the Geriatric Department from the University State Hospital in Bordeaux, France. PARTICIPANTS: 49 institutionalized old patients with at least one Neuropsychiatric symptoms > or =4. INTERVENTION: The CA rationale was a non-preconceived ideas approach over the patient's abilities and discourse. Patients received short bouts of 5-15 min and accumulated 50 min of interaction per week. CA intervention used five standardized exercises as tools to enhance communication and social interactions. CA was compared to usual care. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcomes were the Neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) total and symptoms scores. Secondary outcomes were the BERG balance scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Quality of life AM-PAC-CAT and Muscle strength. RESULTS: The CA group had a clinically significant NPI total score reduction compared to C, -7, 95%CI [-10.8 to -3], eta2 = 0.24. CA group showed a risk reduction of NPI total score worsening, OR = 0.09, 95%CI [0.02-0.37]. BERG total score was clinically improved in the CA group compared to C, 4.9 95%CI [0.7-9.2], eta2(p)= 0.11. CA patients reduced their GDS score and improved their Quality of life and Strength. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of tailored guidance and simple standardized exercises was an effective behavioral management approach for behavioral disturbances reduction and functional autonomy improvement in institutionalized old adult populations.