BMC geriatrics
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Multidisciplinary intervention to improve medication safety in nursing home residents: protocol of a cluster randomised controlled trial (HIOPP-3-iTBX study).
Medication safety is an important health issue for nursing home residents (NHR). They usually experience polypharmacy and often take potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) and antipsychotics. This, coupled with a frail health state, makes NHR particularly vulnerable to adverse drug events (ADE). The value of systematic medication reviews and interprofessional co-operation for improving medication quality in NHR has been recognized. Yet the evidence of a positive effect on NHR' health and wellbeing is inconclusive at this stage. This study investigates the effects of pharmacists' medication reviews linked with measures to strengthen interprofessional co-operation on NHR' medication quality, health status and health care use. ⋯ The trial assesses the effects of a structured interprofessional medication management for NHR in Germany. It follows the participatory action research approach and closely involves the three professional groups (nursing staff, GPs, pharmacists) engaged in the medication management. A handbook based on the experiences of the trial in nursing homes will be produced for a rollout into routine practice in Germany.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A randomized controlled trial protocol to test the efficacy of a dual-task multicomponent exercise program in the attenuation of frailty in long-term nursing home residents: Aging-ONDUAL-TASK study.
The purpose of the Aging-ONDUAL-TASK study is to determine if a supervised dual-task program carried out in long-term nursing homes is able to attenuate frailty in a greater extent than the same multicomponent exercise program alone. ⋯ The present research will add valuable information to the knowledge around the effects of the dual-task program in long-term nursing home residents, taking altogether physical, cognitive and emotional variables linked to frailty.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Feasibility of trial procedures for a randomised controlled trial of a community based group exercise intervention for falls prevention for visually impaired older people: the VIOLET study.
Visually impaired older people (VIOP) have a higher risk of falling than their sighted peers, and are likely to avoid physical activity. The aim was to adapt the existing Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme for VIOP, delivered in the community, and to investigate the feasibility of conducting a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) of this adapted intervention. ⋯ The intervention, FaME, was implemented successfully for VIOP and all progression criteria for a main trial were met. The lack of difference between groups on fear of falling was unsurprising given it was a pilot study but there may have been other contributory factors including suboptimal exercise dose and apparent low risk of falls in participants. These issues need addressing for a future trial.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Quality of life and paracetamol in advanced dementia (Q-PID): protocol of a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial.
No proven effective interventions on quality of life (QoL) are available for persons with dementia in a long-term care facility (LTCF). However, several interventions are effective in diminishing mediators of QoL (i.e. challenging behaviour, depressed mood, sleeping disorders), including pain treatment. Un(der)diagnosed and un(der)treated pain is a serious and frequent problem in persons with dementia. Also, although pain is difficult to assess in this group, the impact on QoL is probably considerable. There is evidence that pain has a negative impact on behaviour, mood, functioning and social participation, and benefit may be derived from use of paracetamol. Therefore, in LTCF residents with advanced dementia, this study aims to evaluate the effect of scheduled pain treatment with paracetamol on QoL, neuropsychiatric symptoms, ADL function, pain, care dependency, and (change in) use of psychotropic and pain medication. ⋯ If regular treatment with paracetamol proves to be beneficial for QoL, this could have major implications for daily practice in long-term care. Information from this study may help professionals in their decision making regarding the prescription of pain medication to improve the QoL of persons with dementia and a low QoL.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of tai chi alongside usual care with usual care alone on the postural balance of community-dwelling people with dementia: protocol for the TACIT trial (TAi ChI for people with demenTia).
Falls are a public health issue for the older adult population and more so for people with dementia (PWD). Compared with their cognitively intact peers, PWD are at higher risk of falls and injurious falls. This randomised controlled trial aims to test the clinical and cost effectiveness of Tai Chi to improve postural balance among community-dwelling PWD and to assess the feasibility of conducting a larger definitive trial to reduce the incidence of falls among PWD. ⋯ This trial is the first in the UK to test the effectiveness of Tai Chi to improve balance among PWD. The trial will inform a future study that will be the first in the world to use Tai Chi in a trial to prevent falls among PWD.