Reducing Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: Development Phase
Research type
Research Study
Full title
REducing and preventing COgnitive impairment iN older age groups (the RECON Programme)Development Phase
IRAS ID
228584
Contact name
Paul Little
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 26 days
Research summary
The prevalence of dementia is between 5 and 7% amongst over 65 year-olds in the UK. Cognitive impairment in the absence of dementia is even more common, and approximately 10% of cases convert to dementia each year. However, there is substantial evidence that healthy behaviours, including physical activity, cognitive training tasks and healthy eating have positive effects on cognitive function. Despite this, such face-to-face interventions can be costly. This research is part of a programme of study to determine whether internet-based interventions for older adults are an effective and cost-effective means of facilitating practice of these healthy behaviours to: reduce cognitive decline amongst those with pre-existing cognitive impairment (workstream one: WS1); and to maintain cognitive functioning in healthy older adults (workstream two: WS2). The qualitative research outlined here aims to ensure that the interventions are developed in line with the needs and preferences of target users to ensure that they are acceptable and accessible. Two qualitative studies will be conducted, including 60-90 older adults both with and without cognitive impairment. After giving informed consent participants will be asked to share their thoughts and feelings about early versions of the intervention and any issues they raise for facilitating healthy behaviour change to benefit brain health:
Study 1: face-to-face 'think aloud' interviews where patients give 'live' feedback as they view and use the website.
Study 2: retrospective telephone or face-to-face interviews with patients giving feedback on the website after trying it for one to three weeks in their own home.
This phase will also involve reviewing existing theoretical and empirical literature to systematically inform intervention content, structure, and functionality. Once fully developed and modified in response to feedback from the current studies the interventions will be tested in feasibility trials and large scale Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) (detailed in later applications).REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0463
Date of REC Opinion
28 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion