Intersectional analysis of social disparities in type 2 diabetes risk among adults in Germany: results from a nationwide population-based survey.

BACKGROUND: Differences in type 2 diabetes risk have been reported for several sociodemographic determinants including sex/gender or socioeconomic status. From an intersectional perspective, it is important to not only consider the role of social dimensions individually, but also their intersections. This allows for a deeper understanding of diabetes risk and preventive needs among diverse population groups. METHODS: As an intersectionality-informed approach, multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (MAIHDA) was used in a population-based sample of adults without known diabetes in Germany from the cross-sectional survey "Disease knowledge and information needs- Diabetes mellitus (2017)". Diabetes risk was assessed by the German Diabetes Risk Score (GDRS, range 0-122 points), estimating the individual risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next 5 years based on established self-reported risk factors. Nesting individuals in 12 intersectional strata defined by combining sex/gender, educational level, and history of migration, we calculated measures to quantify the extent to which individual differences in diabetes risk were explained at strata level, and how much this was due to additive or multiplicative intersectional effects of social determinants. RESULTS: Drawing on data of 2,253 participants, we found good discriminatory accuracy of intersectional strata (variance partition coefficient = 14.00% in the simple intersectional model). Model-predicted GDRS means varied between 29.97 (corresponding to a "low risk" of < 2%) in women with high educational level and a history of migration, and 52.73 ("still low risk" of 2-5%) in men with low educational level without a history of migration. Variance in GDRS between strata was mainly explained by additive effects of social determinants (proportional change in variance to intersectional interaction model = 77.95%) with being male and having low educational level being associated with higher GDRS. There was no evidence of multiplicative effects in individual strata. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetes risk differed between intersectional strata and can to some extent be explained at strata level. The role of intersectional effects was minor and needs to be further investigated. Findings suggest a need for specific preventive measures targeted at large groups with increased diabetes risk, such as men and persons with low educational level.

Analysis of cybersickness in virtual nursing simulation: a German longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Innovative educational approaches such as simulation-based nursing education using virtual reality (VR) technologies provide new opportunities for nursing education. However, there is a lack of information on side effects, especially health-related side effects, of head-mounted displays (HMDs) on the human body when using VR devices for nursing simulation. This study aims to validate the German version of the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ) and to evaluate its associations with sex and age, as reflected in the VRSQG scores (total score, oculomotor, and disorientation) over time. METHODS: A longitudinal-sectional study was conducted. In addition to the VRSQG (pre-, post-, and 20 min post-intervention), participants (all nursing students) completed data on personal characteristics. Participants completed a VR simulation of a blood draw. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate whether the measured construct was consistent with the original. In addition to the validity, internal consistency was analyzed and generalized linear models (GLMs) were used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 38 nursing students (mean age 26.8 years; SD = 7.1, 79.0% female) participated. The mean time spent in the VR simulation was 21 min. All participants completed the entire simulation. The CFA indicates (CFI = 0.981, SRMR = 0.040) VRSQG structure is given. Internal consistency showed low values for the subdomain Oculomotor (Cronbach alpha 0.670). For Disorientation and the Total score values showed a sufficient internal consistency. GLMs showed significant between subject associations with age over time with VRSQG total score, oculomotor, and disorientation. Older nursing students start with higher VRSQG-Scores. Over time, an approximation occurs, so that all participants reach a similar level by the final measurement point. No associations were found between sex (male/female) and VRSQG scores. CONCLUSIONS: The VRSQG is a reliable and valid self-assessment for measuring cybersickness in VR based nursing simulations, with cybersickness symptoms positively associated with age. However, in depth-evaluation regarding age-associations with cybersickness should be done. As well as studies to explore additional associations and emphasizes the importance of establishing cut-off values to assess the clinical relevance of the scores.

[What importance does outpatient care have for mobility in rural areas? Results from a GPS study among persons aged 75 and older]. / Außerhäusliche Mobilität von Personen ab 75 Jahren im ländlichen Raum. Ergebnisse aus einer GPS-Studie.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-home mobility, defined as active and passive movement through external environments, is a resource for autonomy, quality of life, and self-realization in older age. Various factors influence out-of-home mobility, primarily studied in urban settings. The study aims to examine associated factors in a study population aged 75 and above in rural areas. METHODS: Baseline data from the MOBILE trial involving 212 participants aged 75 and above and collected between June 2021 and October 2022 were analyzed. Out-of-home mobility was measured temporally as time out of home (TOH) and spatially as convex hull (CHull) using GPS over seven days. Mixed models considered outpatient care parameters as well as personal, social, and environmental factors along with covariates such as age and gender. RESULTS: Participants in the MOBILE study (average age 81.5; SD: 4.1; 56.1% female) exhibited average out-of-home mobility of TOH: 319.3 min (SD: 196.3) and CHull: 41.3 (SD: 132.8). Significant associations were found for age (TOH: ß = -0.039, p < 0.001), social network (TOH: ß = 0.123, p < 0.001), living arrangement (CHull: ß = 0.689, p = 0.035), health literacy (CHull: ß = 0.077, p = 0.008), sidewalk quality (ß = 0.366, p = 0.003), green space ratio (TOH: ß = 0.005, p = 0.047), outpatient care utilization (TOH: ß = -0.637, p < 0.001, CHull: ß = 1.532; p = 0.025), and active driving (TOH: ß = -0.361, p = 0.004). DISCUSSION: Previously known multifactorial associations related to objectively measured out-of-home mobility in old age could be confirmed in rural areas. Novel and relevant for research and practice is the significant correlation between out-of-home mobility and outpatient care utilization.

Psychosocial and biological pathways to aging : The role(s) of the behavioral and social sciences in geroscience.

While the biological hallmarks of aging are widely recognized as fundamental mechanisms of biological aging, more recently, there have been calls within geroscience to understand the aging process more comprehensively by adding a perspective of the social hallmarks of aging. Social and behavioral factors, such as socioeconomic status, life events or behavior and beliefs can alter the aging process per se and act in complex interactions with biological pathways. In addition, underlying biological pathways have been proposed for various psychosocial concepts, such as views on age and relationship quality. The aim of the present article is to provide narrative insights into theoretical and empirical developments between social and behavioral gerontology and geroscience or biogerontology. This article focuses on the potential of an interdisciplinary aging research but it also sets out the critical perspective that social gerontology provides.

[COVID-19 vaccination status among nurses and associated factors in long-term care facilities : Results of a cross-sectional survey within the Covid-Heim project]. / COVID-19-Impfstatus von Pflegenden und assoziierte Faktoren in der stationären Langzeitpflege : Ergebnisse einer Querschnittbefragung im Rahmen des Projekts Covid-Heim.

BACKGROUND: Nurses working in long-term care facilities were vaccinated first before residents as a matter of priority to protect the latter. Although the vaccination rate of nursing staff eventually rose due to a facility-based vaccination requirement, studies on associated factors of vaccination status are currently not available for the long-term care setting in Germany. OBJECTIVE: Associated factors of COVID-19 vaccination status among nursing staff in long-term care facilities were explored. METHODS: An online survey was conducted between October 26th 2021 and January 31st 2022. A total of 1546 nurses working in long-term care in Germany responded to questions concerning the Covid-19 vaccination campaign. Logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: In this study 8 out of 10 nurses were vaccinated against COVID-19 (80.6%). Approximately 7 out of 10 nurses thought at least a few times about quitting their job since the pandemic began (71.4%). A positive COVID-19 vaccination status was associated with older age, full-time employment, COVID-19 deaths at the facility and working in northern or western Germany. Frequent thoughts of quitting their job were associated with negative COVID-19 vaccination status. CONCLUSION: The present findings provide evidence on factors associated with the COVID-19 vaccination status of nurses in long-term care facilities in Germany for the first time. Further quantitative as well as qualitative studies are necessary for a more comprehensive understanding of the COVID-19 vaccination decision-making among nurses in long-term care, in order to implement target-oriented future vaccination campaigns in this care setting.

Effectiveness of Psychotherapy for Community-Dwelling Vulnerable Older Adults with Depression and Care Needs: Findings from the PSY-CARE Trial.

BACKGROUND: For older adults with care needs, evidence for the effectiveness of psychotherapy on depression is scarce. METHODS: In PSY-CARE, a pragmatic randomized controlled trial, N = 197 home-living older adults with depression and care needs were randomized into outpatient psychotherapy or an active control condition. Residential psychotherapists offered age-sensitive cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (at-home if needed). Control group participants received telephone counseling and a self-help guide. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T1), after (T2), 3 months after (T3), and 12 months after the intervention (T4). RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in depressive symptoms across both arms with Cohen's d T4-T1 = .52 in the psychotherapy and .55 in the control group. Mixed models revealed no statistically significant difference in primary and secondary outcomes between interventions. Posthoc, we found control group participants with greater ADL limitations experienced significantly increased depressive symptoms compared to those reporting lower limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions were successful in reducing depressive symptoms, even though treatment fidelity was decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We could not demonstrate superior effectiveness of psychotherapy for older adults with care needs. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Findings suggest that psychotherapy may be an important and superior treatment to circumvent aggravation of depression in older patients with high functional limitations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was prospectively registered with the ISRCTN registry (Trial registration number: ISRCTN55646265, February 15, 2019).

[Status of the implementation of simulation-based education in Germany: A cross-sectional study]. / Stand der Umsetzung des simulationsbasierten Lehrens in Deutschland.

Status of the implementation of simulation-based education in Germany: A cross-sectional study Abstract. Background: The importance of simulation-based learning in nursing education is growing. Its success depends on the qualification of facilitators and the use of standards. Up to now, there has been a lack of data on the state of implementation of simulation-based learning in nursing education in Germany. Research question: Which qualification level do simulation facilitators show in nursing education in Germany and which concepts and standards are used? Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among simulation facilitators in three different educational areas. The questionnaire included socio-demographic and professional characteristics as well as qualification measures completed, and concepts and standards applied. Data were analysed descriptively by determining arithmetic means plus standard deviation (SD) or absolute and relative frequencies. Results: A total of 156 simulation facilitators (mean age 41.5 (SD 9.8) years, 74.2% female) participated. 95.4% of participants reported being (very) highly motivated for simulation-based learning. Specific simulation pedagogy training was completed by 16.8% of participants. The application of evidence-based concepts is not occurring across the board. Conclusions: Against the background of international standards, qualification needs for simulation facilitators in Germany become apparent. Increased specific, standardized continuing education and training as well as the establishment of evidence-based concepts are important for high quality in simulation facilitation.

Life-space mobility among home-living older adults with care needs and clinical depression-A cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVES: While life-space mobility is key for wellbeing, social participation and access to health care, vulnerable older adults face physical and mental barriers that may restrict mobility. The present exploratory study examined associations between physical functional limitations, depressive symptoms, life-space mobility and outpatient health care utilization. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 197 community-dwelling older adults with care needs and clinical depression was collected. Life-space assessment composite score (LS-C), instrumental activities of daily living scale (iADL), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-12) and outpatient health care utilization have been assessed. Multiple regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Mean LS-C score was 31.8 (SD = 17.7, range: 0-92), indicating low mobility levels. Depressive symptoms (ß = -0.21, p = 0.001) and iADL (ß = 0.54, p < 0.001) were significantly related with life-space mobility, over and above age and living alone. An interaction effect between depressive symptoms and iADL was not significant (ß = -0.07, 0.17, p = 0.26). Moreover, life-space mobility was positively associated with primary care (ß = 0.19, p = 0.02) and mental health care utilization (ß = 0.33, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Life-space mobility appears to be largely restricted in home-living vulnerable older adults with clinically significant depression; and factors associated with these restrictions appear to be physical and mental. The interplay of depression, mobility and health care utilization and its potential for interventional approaches need further investigations. Present findings underline an urgent need for new health care services that allow mobility-impaired older patients to receive mental health outpatient treatment in their own home. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was prospectively registered with the ISRCTN registry (Trial registration number: ISRCTN55646265, registered February 15, 2019).

Effectiveness of a tablet-based intervention for people living with dementia in primary care-A cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Primary care physicians (PCP) play a key role in the care of people living with dementia. However, the implementation and practicability of the German S3 Dementia Guideline in primary care remain unclear. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate an intervention for improving guideline-based dementia care in primary care. DESIGN: A two-arm, 9-month follow-up cluster-randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. SETTING: 28 primary care practices in Berlin and the surrounding area in Germany. PARTICIPANTS: A total of N = 28 PCP, N = 91 people living with dementia, and N = 88 informal caregivers participated in the trial. INTERVENTION: A tablet-based intervention to improve adherence to the German S3 Dementia Guideline in primary care was compared to a control group (care as usual plus a handbook on dementia). MeasurementsAdherence to dementia guideline (primary outcome) was measured on PCP' (23 items) and informal caregivers' level (19 items) with a self-developed checklist. Secondary outcomes (quality of life, neuropsychiatric symptoms, activities of daily living, general health status, depression, and caregiver burden) were measured with standardized assessments. Also, post-hoc per-protocol analyses were conducted. RESULTS: No differences in guideline adherence between the intervention and the control group were observed. Further, no significant impact of the intervention on secondary outcomes was detected. CONCLUSION: The DemTab Study did not improve self-reported guideline adherence in PCP. However, important implementation barriers such as lack of interoperability and low applicability of existing German S3 Dementia Guideline in the primary care setting were identified and are being discussed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The DemTab trial was prospectively registered with the ISRCTN registry (Trial registration number: ISRCTN15854413). Registered 01 April 2019, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15854413.

Urban-rural differences in health literacy in the metropolitan area of Berlin, Germany, and its surroundings.

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is gaining importance as it concerns the ability of individuals to encounter the complex demands of health in modern societies. Little is known about the environmental associations of health literacy in high-income countries. This study aims to (i) analyse urban-rural differences in health literacy and further (ii) investigate the interrelations of associated factors. METHODS: Based on secondary analyses using a population-based survey of individuals aged 35 years and older from Berlin, Germany, and the surrounding rural area. Health literacy, sociodemographic factors (gender, age, educational level, marital status, income), environmental factors (urban/rural) and health behaviour (physical activity) were assessed with questionnaires. T-tests, Analyses of Variance and multiple regression with interaction terms have been applied. RESULTS: In total, 1822 participants (51.2% female and 56.8% living in an urban region) took part in this study. Health literacy was significantly higher in rural regions (mean = 35.73, SD = 7.56) than in urban regions (mean = 34.10, SD = 8.07). Multiple multivariate regressions showed that living in urban regions, being older, having vocational or basic education, having mid or low income, being widowed, having moderate or low levels of physical activity were significantly negatively associated with health literacy. Incorporating interaction terms showed significance that being older is positively associated with urban regions. CONCLUSION: We found higher levels of health literacy in rural regions and also demonstrated that multiple associated factors of health literacy work congruously. Thus, the environment, associated factors and their interplay must be considered in future urban-rural health literacy research.

Smartphone-assisted training with education for patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (SmArt-E): study protocol for a multicentre pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Hip and knee osteoarthritis are associated with functional limitations, pain and restrictions in quality of life and the ability to work. Furthermore, with growing prevalence, osteoarthritis is increasingly causing (in)direct costs. Guidelines recommend exercise therapy and education as primary treatment strategies. Available options for treatment based on physical activity promotion and lifestyle change are often insufficiently provided and used. In addition, the quality of current exercise programmes often does not meet the changing care needs of older people with comorbidities and exercise adherence is a challenge beyond personal physiotherapy. The main objective of this study is to investigate the short- and long-term (cost-)effectiveness of the SmArt-E programme in people with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis in terms of pain and physical functioning compared to usual care. METHODS: This study is designed as a multicentre randomized controlled trial with a target sample size of 330 patients. The intervention is based on the e-Exercise intervention from the Netherlands, consists of a training and education programme and is conducted as a blended care intervention over 12 months. We use an app to support independent training and the development of self-management skills. The primary and secondary hypotheses are that participants in the SmArt-E intervention will have less pain (numerical rating scale) and better physical functioning (Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) compared to participants in the usual care group after 12 and 3 months. Other secondary outcomes are based on domains of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI). The study will be accompanied by a process evaluation. DISCUSSION: After a positive evaluation, SmArt-E can be offered in usual care, flexibly addressing different care situations. The desired sustainability and the support of the participants' behavioural change are initiated via the app through audio-visual contact with their physiotherapists. Furthermore, the app supports the repetition and consolidation of learned training and educational content. For people with osteoarthritis, the new form of care with proven effectiveness can lead to a reduction in underuse and misuse of care as well as contribute to a reduction in (in)direct costs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00028477. Registered on August 10, 2022.

Psychotherapists' experiences providing at-home psychotherapy for home-living older adults with long-term care needs and depression.

This study used qualitative methods to explore psychotherapists' experiences conducting at-home psychotherapy with older adults (60 + years) with long-term care needs and depression. We conducted semistructured interviews with 16 female psychotherapists (26-70 years old) who delivered at-home cognitive behavioral therapy to home-living older adults with long-term care needs and depression. We additionally conducted 10 patient case studies. Using an adaption of the methodology of grounded theory, we iteratively developed a hierarchical model. Results showed that psychotherapists experienced three dilemmas: (a) pushing for change versus acknowledging limitations, (b) providing help versus maintaining boundaries, and (c) being a guest in the patient's home versus the host of a psychotherapy session. The absence of a shared understanding of therapy and confrontation with patients' existential suffering intensified the experience of the dilemmas. The dilemmas generated professional self-doubt and negative emotions, which in turn triggered a reflexive process and ultimately participants' professional development. Participants found a way to integrate drives initially perceived as mutually exclusive, and further developed their professional self-image and therapeutic techniques. We interpret the dilemmas as reflecting difficulty reconciling the "curing" and "caring" treatment paradigms. Practice and support managing the three dilemmas along with reflection on the curing paradigm, views on old age, and fear of existential suffering should be part of qualifications for psychotherapists working with older adults in need of care. Cooperating with other care providers may relieve the pressure on psychotherapists to provide forms of support that could lead to overburden and impede therapeutic progress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Facilitator competency rubric in nursing simulations: transcultural adaptation and validation of the German version.

BACKGROUND: Simulations are part of nursing education. To obtain good results, simulation facilitators need to be competent in simulation pedagogy. Part of this study was the transcultural adaptation and validation of the Facilitator Competency Rubric into German (FCRG) and the evaluation of the factors associated with higher competencies. METHOD: A written-standardized cross-sectional survey was conducted. N = 100 facilitators (mean age: 41.0 (9.8), female: 75.3%) participated. Test-re-test, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and ANOVAs were conducted to evaluate the reliability and validity of, and the factors associated with, FCRG. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values > .9 indicate excellent reliability. RESULTS: The FCRG achieved good intra-rater reliability (all ICC > .934). A moderate correlation (Spearman-rho .335, p < .001) with motivation indicates convergent validity. The CFA showed sufficient to good model fits (CFI = .983 and SRMR = .016). Basic simulation pedagogy training is associated with higher competencies (p = .036, b = 17.766). CONCLUSION: The FCRG is a suitable self-assessment tool for evaluating a facilitator's competence in nursing simulation.

[Preventing the need for long-term care : Analyses of assessment data from the medical service]. / Prävention von Pflegebedürftigkeit : Analysen von Begutachtungsdaten des Medizinischen Dienstes.

BACKGROUND: The importance of preventing the need for care increases with the growing number of people in need of care. For Germany, there is currently insufficient data on which factors are associated with the need for long-term care. In order to derive a preventive approach, this study examines the interactions between sociodemographic and health-related factors that determine the need for long-term care. METHODS: We analyzed the assessment data of the Medical Service Berlin-Brandenburg, which determines a need for care according to SGB XI for the 2017 and 2018/19 periods. We focused on the applicants who remained without a care grade classification over the period under consideration (6037 out of a total of 72,680 applicants in 2017). Social factors such as household composition, support potential, and partnership status were extracted using text-mining methods, and the data was evaluated using descriptive and multivariable statistical methods. RESULTS: Younger applicants and people without a partner had an increased chance of not being diagnosed with a need for long-term care. Also associated with an increased chance of remaining without a degree of care in 2018/19 were an improvement in health, having been without social support since 2017, musculoskeletal disorders, and chronic ischemic heart disease. On the other hand, applicants with dementia and other mental illnesses had fewer chances of remaining without a care level classification. DISCUSSION: The first investigation of the Medical Service assessment data from a preventive perspective shows that the interaction of sociodemographic and health-related determinants must be considered in order to identify additional preventive potential.

[Strengthening prevention and health promotion in and for old age]. / Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung im und für das Alter stärken.

BACKGROUND: Disease prevention and health promotion in and for old age have become increasingly more important. Nevertheless, more (national) research and implementation in practice is needed, as the international comparison shows. OBJECTIVE: To develop guiding principles for research and practice on prevention and health promotion in and for old age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: As part of an iterative process, members of the German Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics came together in workshops and symposia to formulate key guiding principles and fields of action for prevention and health promotion. RESULTS: The following were worked out: 1) prevention and health promotion are useful and possible up to oldest age, 2) prevention and health promotion for advanced age should start early, 3) prevention and health promotion must take into account the diversity and heterogeneity of the life situations of old people, 4) prevention and health promotion promote and demand self-determination and participation, 5) prevention of multiple illnesses must be given greater attention, 6) prevention of the need for long-term care and prevention in long-term care must be treated equally, 7) prevention and health promotion must be thought of in terms of life worlds and across sectors, paying particular attention to aspects of social inequality and a focus on resources, 8) prevention and health promotion and the related research must be interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary and be applied at different levels, from molecular to societal. DISCUSSION: The guiding principles outline the focal points of future-oriented ageing, health and healthcare research and open up fields of action but also show the limits of this approach for political decision-makers, researchers and practitioners.

Experiences of Home-living Vulnerable Older Adults with Clinical Depression during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the diversity of older adults' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We therefore investigated the pandemic experiences of home-living vulnerable older adults with depression, an understudied subpopulation. METHODS: We conducted unstructured interviews with N= 20 older (60+ years) adults with clinical depression receiving care in their homes in June and again in December 2020. Interviews were coded according to the grounded theory approach. RESULTS: We identified eight themes. Participants described feeling disconnected before and during the pandemic, which they attributed to their physical impairments and old age. Their social relations with family, medical providers, and caregivers helped them feel connected. Participants did not feel significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they missed social and physical contact. During the pandemic, isolation was normalized. Participants therefore experienced loneliness due to their isolation, but also a sense of togetherness with the rest of society. Isolation within the home was re-framed as cocooning, which provided a sense of autonomy. Participants nevertheless expressed resignation. CONCLUSIONS: Home-living vulnerable older adults with depression experienced loneliness but also a degree of relief during the pandemic. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Positively re-framing isolation and the stability of formal caregiving helped participants endure feeling disconnected during the pandemic.

[Social participation in nursing homes with Covid-19 protection measures in the second pandemic wave? Linkage of prescriptions and survey]. / Soziale Teilhabe in Pflegeheimen mit Covid-19-Schutzmaßnahmen in der zweiten Pandemiewelle?

Social participation in nursing homes with Covid-19 protection measures in the second pandemic wave? Linkage of prescriptions and survey Abstract: Background: The implementation of protective measures in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic was accompanied with the loss of social participation opportunities in the first Covid-19 wave; this has been inadequately studied for the second Covid wave. Aim: To evaluate the association of protective measures and social participation restrictions for the second Covid-19 wave to develop recommendations for action. Methods: Mixed-methods online surve y of nursing home managers (n = 873) in the second wave. Binary logistic generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the likelihood of the elimination of social participation services in nursing homes as a function of legal protections. Open-ended responses about maintaining social participation were content analyzed (n = 1042). Results: More than one in two nursing home managers reported prohibited group events (66,6%), and more than one in three prohibited creative activities (42,3%). Visitation restrictions (85,2%) were common in the second wave. The loss of participation services and the protective measures were significantly associated. Qualitative data showed that, for example, the acquisition of mobile shopping stores were opportunities to counteract the social exclusion of the residents. Discussion: The association between the loss of social participation services with the implementation of protective measures was clearly pronounced. Nursing practitioners should focus on enabling social participation whilst guaranteeing protection against infection best possible.

Evaluation of Recruitment Strategies for Home-Living Vulnerable Older Adults With Depression: Findings From a Randomized Controlled Psychotherapy Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Vulnerable older adults, such as physically impaired or care-dependent individuals, are vastly underrepresented in psychotherapy research. Improving their inclusion in randomized controlled trials is necessary to determine the effectiveness of psychotherapy in this population. This study is the first to systematically evaluate strategies to recruit home-living vulnerable older adults with clinically significant depression into a large randomized controlled psychotherapy trial. Potential participants were approached directly (self-referral) or via cooperation with gatekeepers (gatekeeper-referral). METHODS: Successful recruitment strategies and the person initiating the first contact with the study team were recorded. Recruitment strategies were compared with respect to the number of inquiries and inclusion rates, study personnel's time investment, and participant characteristics (sociodemographics, functional and cognitive status, depression and anxiety scores). RESULTS: Most of the N = 197 participants were included via gatekeeper-referral (80.5%, 95% confidence interval = [74.9, 86.1]), but time investment for gatekeeper-referrals was five times higher than for self-referral by media reports. Clinical psychologists and medical practitioners referred the largest proportion of participants (32.3% each) and referral by medical practitioners led to highest inclusion rates (55.6%; χ²(3) = 8.964, p <0.05). Most participants were referred from a hospital setting (50.3%), whereas referral numbers by medical practices were low (15.9%). Participants who initiated the first contact themselves had higher inclusion rates and were less functionally impaired. CONCLUSION: Including home-living vulnerable older adults into psychotherapy trials requires simultaneous implementation of diverse recruitment strategies. Medical practitioners and psychologists, especially in hospitals, are the most effective recruitment strategy, but self-referral via media is most cost-efficient in terms of time investment.

Concordance of self- and informant-rated depressive symptoms in nursing home residents with Dementia: cross-sectional findings.

BACKGROUND: Depression is highly prevalent in nursing home residents living with moderate to severe dementia. However, assessing depressive symptoms in residents with dementia can be challenging and may vary by rater perspective. We aimed to investigate the concordance of, and factors associated with self- and informant-rated depressive symptoms in nursing home residents with dementia. METHODS: Cross-sectional data was collected from N = 162 nursing home residents with dementia (age: 53-100; 74% women). Self-ratings were assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale, while the depression and anxiety items of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory were used for informant-ratings. Cohen's Kappa was calculated to determine the concordance of both measures and of each with antidepressant medication. Multivariate associations with sociodemographic variables, self- and informant-rated quality of life, dementia stage, neuropsychiatric symptoms, functional status and antidepressant medication were analysed with linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Concordance between self- and single item informant-rated depressive symptoms was minimal (Cohen's Kappa = .22, p = .02). No concordance was found for self-reported depressive symptoms and the combined informant-rated depression-anxiety score. Self-reported depression was negatively associated with self-rated quality of life (ß = -.32; 95%CI: -.45 to -.19, p < .001), informant-rated quality of life (ß = -.25; 95%CI: -.43 to -.07, p = .005) and functional status (ß = -.16; 95%CI: -.32 to -.01, p = .04), whilst single item informant-rated depression revealed negative associations with informant-rated quality of life (ß = -.32; 95%CI: -.52 to -.13, p = .001) and dementia stage (ß = -.31; 95%CI: -.52 to -.10, p = .004). The combined informant-rated depression-anxiety score showed negative associations with self-rated quality of life (ß = -.12; 95%CI: -.22 to -.03, p = .01) and dementia stage (ß = -.37; 95%CI: -.67 to -.07, p = .02) and a positive association with neuropsychiatric symptoms (ß = .30; 95%CI: .10 to .51, p = .004). No concordance was found with antidepressant medication. CONCLUSIONS: In line with our expectations, low agreement and unique association patterns were found for both measures. These findings indicate that both instruments address different aspects of depression und underline the need for comprehensive approaches when it comes to detecting signs of clinically relevant depressive symptoms in dementia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered with the ISRCTN registry (Trial registration number: ISRCTN98947160 ).

A tablet-based intervention for activating nursing home residents with dementia: results from a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate global and momentary effects of a tablet-based non-pharmacological intervention for nursing home residents living with dementia. DESIGN: Cluster-randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Ten nursing homes in Germany were randomly allocated to the tablet-based intervention (TBI, 5 units) or conventional activity sessions (CAS, 5 units). PARTICIPANTS: N = 162 residents with dementia. INTERVENTION: Participants received regular TBI (n = 80) with stimulating activities developed to engage people with dementia or CAS (n = 82) for 8 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-I, primary outcome), Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease scale, QUALIDEM scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale, and psychotropic medication (secondary outcomes). Momentary quality of life was assessed before and after each activity session. Participants and staff were blinded until the collection of baseline data was completed. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Levels of apathy decreased slightly in both groups (mean decrease in AES-I of .61 points, 95% CI -3.54, 2.33 for TBI and .36 points, 95% CI -3.27, 2.55 for CAS). Group difference in change of apathy was not statistically significant (ß = .25; 95% CI 3.89, 4.38, p = .91). This corresponds to a standardized effect size (Cohen's d) of .02. A reduction of psychotropic medication was found for TBI compared to CAS. Further analyses revealed a post-intervention improvement in QUALIDEM scores across both groups and short-term improvements of momentary quality of life in the CAS group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that interventions involving tailored activities have a beneficial impact on global and momentary quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia. Although we found no clear advantage of TBI compared to CAS, tablet computers can support delivery of non-pharmacological interventions in nursing homes and facilitate regular assessments of fluctuating momentary states.