NCT03303638

Investigating the Impact of Multi-sensory Environments on Behavior During Assisted Bathing for Veterans With Dementia

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 11 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Florida · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) greatly impact quality of life (QoL) for people with dementia, and pharmacological interventions are costly, ineffective or life-threatening. Law-makers support non-pharmacological interventions like multi-sensory environments (MSE) but they have not been widely studied. There is a critical need for investigation of MSE, particularly during assisted bathing, showering, and/or tub bathing, where most BPSD occur.

Detailed description

Dementia is a debilitating and increasingly pervasive condition impacting cognitive decline across the globe. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) impact quality of life (QoL) for people with dementia and are key interventional targets. Pharmacological interventions for BPSD can be costly, ineffective or life-threatening prompting law makers and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to support non-pharmacological interventions like multi-sensory environments (MSE) as the preferred first line of treatment. Despite this support for non-pharmacological interventions like MSE, there has been inconsistency in evaluative methodologies and application of MSE interventions, impeding the widespread use of MSE in dementia-care settings. Therefore, there is a critical need for empirical investigation of well-defined MSE in non-pharmacological dementia-care. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of MSE on aggression/agitation during assisted bathing, showering and/or tub bathing for veterans with dementia. The VA has implemented MSE therapy for veterans with dementia since 2010 and the impact of MSE on aggression remains to be evaluated. In 2013, due to favorable initial results, the VA installed both fixed-room and mobile cart MSE applications in 53 VA community living centers (CLCs) across the US, including one in Lake City, Florida which received mobile MSE carts and waterproof MSE equipment for use during assisted bathing, showering, and/or tub bathing. Most acts of aggression/agitation for people with dementia occur during assisted bathing and there is a strong need for evidence-based research of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce problem behaviors, decrease healthcare provider burden and improve quality of life (QoL) for people with dementia. The overall goal of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of MSE in the reduction of agitation/aggression during assisted bathing, showering, and/or tub bathing for veterans with dementia.

Conditions

• Dementia
• BPSD

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Multi-sensory Environment	Multi-sensory environments (MSE), also known as Snoezelen® environments, are defined as behavioral environmental intervention to help people with cognitive and physical impairments reach sensory equilibrium. Typical elements within MSE include visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory stimuli, ergonomic vibro-acoustic furniture, bubble tubes, color-changing LED lighting solutions, music, fiber optics and aromatherapy.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-01-23
• Primary completion: 2019-07-19
• Completion: 2019-07-19
• First posted: 2017-10-06
• Last updated: 2019-07-22

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States