Developing and Assessing an Innovative Exergaming Technology for Older Adults Living in Long-term Care Homes
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age55+
SponsorUniversity of Toronto
About this trial
Residents living in long-term care (LTC) homes spend up to 75% of their day in sedentary, socially withdrawn situations which increases their risk for depression, dementia, decreased functional status and increased care costs. Physical activity is an accepted intervention to improve the physical health, cognition, and well-being of older adults. Moreover, systematic reviews have found that exergaming (i.e. physical activity gamified with technology) offers physical, cognitive, and social benefits by means of dual-task activities that engage both motor and cognitive abilities. The effect of exergaming for older adults in LTC is less clear, as this population has greater health needs related to physical health conditions, cognitive impairment, and functional dependence. Given the increased global demand for LTC, there is a need to develop and assess innovative exergaming technologies that can support the physical and cognitive health of LTC residents.
MouvMat is an exergaming technology intervention with an interactive digital gaming surface designed for older adults (OA) in LTC settings. Participants can play familiar games, like Simon or Bingo, by stepping on or tapping the surface with an assistive pointing device. Games can be played individually or with multiple players. LED lights on the surface provide an adaptive digital display and embedded pressure sensors respond to players' input. The investigators collaboratively designed a preliminary prototype with OA aged 65 and older in a pilot project.
The overall objective of this proposal is to conduct a pilot RCT of the Mouvmat to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of the exergaming technology to improve the primary outcome of mobility, and the secondary outcomes of cognitive function and social isolation compared to a usual care control group receiving standard recreational programming by recreational therapists.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
All residents at the participating long-term care homes are eligible if they are 55 years of age or older
Ability to communicate and speak English
Able to provide informed consent or have a substitute decision maker (SDM) who provides informed consent
A family member, friend, or personally-hired caregiver of an older adult residing in one of our participating LTC facilities are eligible to participate if they are 18 years of age or older, can communicate and speak English
Disqualifiers
Residents will be ineligible to participate in the study is they cannot communicate or speak English
Residents who typically do not participate in recreational activities
Residents who have a severe sensory (e.g., deaf, blind) or severe to moderate cognitive impairment AND/OR scores less than 20 on the Mini- Mental Status Examination (MMSE)
Family Members who cannot communicate or speak English
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
MouvMat Exergaming
BehavioralSessions engaging with exergaming device.
Standard Recreational Programming
BehavioralConducted by recreational therapists.
Treatment groups
60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: MouvMat ExergamingExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Standard Recreational ProgrammingOther 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change in mean mobility scores on the Timed-up-and-Go test
Completion time in seconds when participant sits in a standard armchair and is instructed to stand up and walk to a line 3 m away at their normal pace, turn around and sit back down in the chair.
Time frame
Baseline and mid-point of the intervention (3 weeks)2
Change in mean mobility scores on the Timed-up-and-Go test
Completion time in seconds when participant sits in a standard armchair and is instructed to stand up and walk to a line 3 m away at their normal pace, turn around and sit back down in the chair.
Time frame
Baseline and following the completion of the intervention (6 weeks)3
Change in mean mobility scores on the 2-Minute Walk Test
Distance walked in meters when a participant is instructed to walk at the fastest speed that they can for 2 minutes.
Time frame
Baseline and mid-point of the intervention (3 weeks)4
Change in mean mobility scores on the 2-Minute Walk Test
Distance walked in meters when a participant is instructed to walk at the fastest speed that they can for 2 minutes.
Time frame
Baseline and following the completion of the intervention (6 weeks)Secondary outcomes
1
Change in mean working memory scores on digit span
Total scores for the WAIS-III forward and backward digit span, in which participants are asked to repeat a series of digits that are read by an experimenter in the same order (forward) or reverse order (backward).
Time frame
Baseline and mid-point of the intervention (3 weeks)2
Change in mean working memory scores on digit span
Total scores for the WAIS-III forward and backward digit span, in which participants are asked to repeat a series of digits that are read by an experimenter in the same order (forward) or reverse order (backward).
Time frame
Baseline and following the completion of the intervention (6 weeks)3
Change in mean basic attention/psychomotor speed on the Trail Making Test A
Time to completion in seconds on a task requiring connecting numbered dots on a page in order as quickly as possible.
Time frame
Baseline and mid-point of the intervention (3 weeks)4
Change in mean basic attention/psychomotor speed on the Trail Making Test A
Time to completion in seconds on a task requiring connecting numbered dots on a page in order as quickly as possible.
Time frame
Baseline and following the completion of the intervention (6 weeks)Other outcomes
1
Acceptability on a version of the modified Treatment Evaluation Inventory (m-TEI) adapted for exergame use
Mean total score from intervention group participants and family members/staff
Time frame
Following the completion of the intervention (6 weeks)2
Semi-structured interviews to evaluate the acceptability of the technology, design, usability and enjoyment, potential facilitators and barriers
A semi-structured interview will be completed with residents in the intervention group, as well as stakeholders including family members and staff, with questions designed to understand the acceptability of the technology, design, usability and enjoyment, potential facilitators and barriers to exergame technology. The post-intervention interviews will be analyzed using thematic analysis.
Time frame
Following the completion of the intervention (6 weeks)Sponsors and contacts
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University of Toronto
Lead sponsor
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov