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A pilot study using “apps” as a novel strategy for the management of challenging behaviors seen in people living in residential care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2016

Samantha M. Loi Open the ORCID record for Samantha M. Loi [Opens in a new window] ,
Angela Mazur ,
David Huppert ,
Bernadette Hoy ,
Jodie Swan  and
Nicola T. Lautenschlager
Samantha M. Loi*
Affiliation:
Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Angela Mazur
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
David Huppert
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Bernadette Hoy
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Jodie Swan
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Nicola T. Lautenschlager
Affiliation:
Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia School of Clinical Neurosciences and the Western Australian Centre for Health and Aging, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Samantha M. Loi, Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, 34-54 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, 3052. Phone: +61-3-9231 8485; Fax: +61-9231-8477. Email: samantha.loi@unimelb.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background:

Many adults living in residential care will demonstrate challenging behaviors. Non-pharmacological strategies are recommended as first-line treatment. Using applications (apps) is a novel approach to managing these behaviors, and has yet to be assessed in this group. This paper describes a pilot study to test apps as a novel non-pharmacological strategy to manage challenging behaviors in adults living in residential care.

Methods:

A non-blinded, non-randomized crossover trial design was implemented which compared apps to a control situation and usual care to determine whether apps were able to decrease challenging behaviors. The primary outcome measure was the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) that measures the frequency and severity of these behaviors.

Results:

Fifteen residents participated whose mean age was 78.5 years. There were a range of diagnoses and comorbidities, including dementia and schizophrenia. IPads were used as the medium for delivering the apps and residential care staff implemented the interventions. There was a significant decrease in the total NPI score using the apps intervention (10.6 points) compared to the control (17.7 points) and to usual care (21.1 points). There was positive qualitative feedback from the staff who were involved in the study, but they also cited barriers such as lack of confidence using the apps and lack of time.

Conclusions:

Although this was a small and limited study, results suggest that using apps may be a feasible and personalized approach to managing challenging behaviors. A more rigorous study design that includes larger sample sizes and staff training may enable further research and benefits in this area.

Keywords

touchscreen technologynon-pharmacologicalresidential facilitieschallenging behaviors
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , April 2017 , pp. 637 - 643
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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