CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03435705MaTheoAlzUpdated Oct 13, 2023

Maintenance of Occupational Therapy for Patients With Alzheimer

An interventional study of maintaining of occupational therapy in Alzheimer's Disease or Related Disorder, sponsored by University Hospital, Bordeaux. Completed at 8 sites in France. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-10-13.

Sponsored by University Hospital, Bordeaux · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
240
Allocation
Randomized
Sex
All
01

Study summary

France put a massive effort for improving dementia care through a national Alzheimer plan in 2008 and this effort was confirmed by the next government (Neurodegenerative Diseases Plan 2014-2019). Some new care models and interventions have been implemented such as Alzheimer specialized teams offering occupational therapy. The teams intervene at home with medical prescription. A recent pilot study demonstrated that occupational therapy has the potential to bring clinical benefits for both dementia patients and their caregivers. Nevertheless, occupational therapy has been designed as a short-term intervention and the end of intervention is challenging for therapists and patients. We aim to test the clinical and economic efficacy of maintaining occupational therapy over supplementary 4 months in a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Read the detailed description

The Alzheimer specialized teams provide "occupational" therapy to maintain or restore the functional capacities of patients. After a deep evaluation of the expectations and needs of patients and their caregivers, the therapists propose to work one or more specific activities that were once pleasant through 12 to 15 sessions at home over 3 months. They also advise individuals to optimize home safety. A pilot observational study that we conducted reported a significant reduction in behavioral disorders of patients during the first 3 months followed by stability. According to the therapists involved in this study, the 3-month format is considered too short to produce perennial benefits; stimulation is often interrupted at the end of the 3 months, which creates a break in management that can be deleterious for patients.

The main objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of the maintenance of occupational therapy for 4 months beyond the three months provided for in the regulatory framework for the management of demented patients, Measured by the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI). The secondary objectives will be to study the efficacy on other clinical criteria but also to carry out an economic evaluation of the maintenance of occupational therapy.

02

Conditions studied

  • Alzheimer's Disease or Related Disorder

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03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with dementia (regardless of etiology) diagnosed or suspected by their physician (general practitioner or specialist) and referred to an Alzheimer specialized team
  • Patients with Mini Mental State Examination score> 15
  • Patients living at home, in residences for the elderly
  • Presence of a non-professional primary caregiver

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients under 18 years of age;
  • Institutionalized or foster care patients;
  • Patients who routinely refuse home care;
  • Patients with a known severe and unstable general pathology that does not allow patient follow-up;
  • Patients already enrolled in another non-drug management trial other than the study;
  • Patients whose institutionalization is probable in the short term (within 6 months) or for whom a change of domicile envisaged in the short term and would not allow the carrying out of the follow-up evaluations;
  • Patients under tutorship or curatorship, patients unable to express consent;
  • Primary caregiver who does not wish to participate in the study or who cannot be available for the follow-up planned for the study;
  • Known cognitive deficits or chronic psychosis that do not able patients' follow-up;
  • Presence of a primary caregiver with known cognitive or psychiatric disorders (chronic active psychosis) , which doesn't allow the proper conduct of the study;
  • Patients who have already benefited from the "occupational" therapy program.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
240 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    intervention arm

    maintaining of occupational therapy for a 4 months period

    Behavioral: maintaining of occupational therapy

  • No intervention
    control arm

    usual care after the end of the recommended initial program

Interventions

  • Behavioralmaintaining of occupational therapy

    8 home sessions over a 4 months period with caregivers' education, occupational therapy and care coordination for post intervention

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) score

    Information on the presence, severity and impact of behavioral disorders. NPI is used to evaluate 12 different types of behavior: delusions, apathy, hallucinations, disinhibition, agitation, irritability, depression, aberrant motor behavior, anxiety, night behavior, euphoria, change in appetite and eating behaviors. This inventory is based on the responses obtained by an informed caregiver, preferably living with the patient. The interview is preferably conducted with the caregiver in the patient's absence, to facilitate open discussion of behaviors that may be difficult to describe in the presence of the patient. If a disorder is present, the caregiver should rate the disorder (1: sometimes, 2: quite often, 3: frequently, 4: very frequently) and the severity of the disorder (1: mild, 2: average ; 3: important). An overall score ranging from 0 to 144 is then calculated, a high score representing greater symptoms in presence, frequency and severity.

    Time frame: NPI score will be measured at 7 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) score

    Information on the presence, severity and impact of behavioral disorders. NPI is used to evaluate 12 different types of behavior: delusions, apathy, hallucinations, disinhibition, agitation, irritability, depression, aberrant motor behavior, anxiety, night behavior, euphoria, change in appetite and eating behaviors. This inventory is based on the responses obtained by an informed caregiver, preferably living with the patient. The interview is preferably conducted with the caregiver in the patient's absence, to facilitate open discussion of behaviors that may be difficult to describe in the presence of the patient. If a disorder is present, the caregiver should rate the disorder (1: sometimes, 2: quite often, 3: frequently, 4: very frequently) and the severity of the disorder (1: mild, 2: average ; 3: important). An overall score ranging from 0 to 144 is then calculated, a high score representing greater symptoms in presence, frequency and severity.

    Time frame: at inclusion

  2. Neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) score

    Information on the presence, severity and impact of behavioral disorders. NPI is used to evaluate 12 different types of behavior: delusions, apathy, hallucinations, disinhibition, agitation, irritability, depression, aberrant motor behavior, anxiety, night behavior, euphoria, change in appetite and eating behaviors. This inventory is based on the responses obtained by an informed caregiver, preferably living with the patient. The interview is preferably conducted with the caregiver in the patient's absence, to facilitate open discussion of behaviors that may be difficult to describe in the presence of the patient. If a disorder is present, the caregiver should rate the disorder (1: sometimes, 2: quite often, 3: frequently, 4: very frequently) and the severity of the disorder (1: mild, 2: average ; 3: important). An overall score ranging from 0 to 144 is then calculated, a high score representing greater symptoms in presence, frequency and severity.

    Time frame: at 3 months

  3. Neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) score

    Information on the presence, severity and impact of behavioral disorders. NPI is used to evaluate 12 different types of behavior: delusions, apathy, hallucinations, disinhibition, agitation, irritability, depression, aberrant motor behavior, anxiety, night behavior, euphoria, change in appetite and eating behaviors. This inventory is based on the responses obtained by an informed caregiver, preferably living with the patient. The interview is preferably conducted with the caregiver in the patient's absence, to facilitate open discussion of behaviors that may be difficult to describe in the presence of the patient. If a disorder is present, the caregiver should rate the disorder (1: sometimes, 2: quite often, 3: frequently, 4: very frequently) and the severity of the disorder (1: mild, 2: average ; 3: important). An overall score ranging from 0 to 144 is then calculated, a high score representing greater symptoms in presence, frequency and severity.

    Time frame: at 12 months

  4. The functional autonomy measured by the Disability Assessment in Dementia (DAD scale).

    This scale concerns the activities of the patient in his daily life (dressing, toilet, medication management in particular). It evaluates 5 basic activities and 5 instrumental activities. Each of the 10 activities is broken down into 3 factors entitled: "initiation" ("the patient takes only the initiative of"), "organization" ("he or she plans, organizes the activity"), "effective action" (" the activity is carried out efficiently "). The DAD is completed during an interview with the caregiver. An overall score ranges from 0 to 40, this score is converted to a percentage.

    Time frame: at inlcusion

  5. The functional autonomy measured by the Disability Assessment in Dementia (DAD scale).

    This scale concerns the activities of the patient in his daily life (dressing, toilet, medication management in particular). It evaluates 5 basic activities and 5 instrumental activities. Each of the 10 activities is broken down into 3 factors entitled: "initiation" ("the patient takes only the initiative of"), "organization" ("he or she plans, organizes the activity"), "effective action" (" the activity is carried out efficiently "). The DAD is completed during an interview with the caregiver. An overall score ranges from 0 to 40, this score is converted to a percentage.

    Time frame: at 3 months

  6. The functional autonomy measured by the Disability Assessment in Dementia (DAD scale).

    This scale concerns the activities of the patient in his daily life (dressing, toilet, medication management in particular). It evaluates 5 basic activities and 5 instrumental activities. Each of the 10 activities is broken down into 3 factors entitled: "initiation" ("the patient takes only the initiative of"), "organization" ("he or she plans, organizes the activity"), "effective action" (" the activity is carried out efficiently "). The DAD is completed during an interview with the caregiver. An overall score ranges from 0 to 40, this score is converted to a percentage.

    Time frame: at 7 months

  7. The functional autonomy measured by the Disability Assessment in Dementia (DAD scale).

    This scale concerns the activities of the patient in his daily life (dressing, toilet, medication management in particular). It evaluates 5 basic activities and 5 instrumental activities. Each of the 10 activities is broken down into 3 factors entitled: "initiation" ("the patient takes only the initiative of"), "organization" ("he or she plans, organizes the activity"), "effective action" (" the activity is carried out efficiently "). The DAD is completed during an interview with the caregiver. An overall score ranges from 0 to 40, this score is converted to a percentage.

    Time frame: at 12 months

  8. Quality of life measured by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease scale.

    This 13-item scale explores 6 areas of subjective health: fitness, mood, memory, the patient's relationship with family members, financial hardship, and general health. This tool generates quality of life scores per patient ranging from 13 to 52. This score can be weighted by the answers provided by the caregiver. For this weighting, we multiply the patient score by 2, add the caregiver score and divide by 3 to bring the score back to that of the initial scale.

    Time frame: at 3 months

  9. Quality of life measured by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease scale.

    This 13-item scale explores 6 areas of subjective health: fitness, mood, memory, the patient's relationship with family members, financial hardship, and general health. This tool generates quality of life scores per patient ranging from 13 to 52. This score can be weighted by the answers provided by the caregiver. For this weighting, we multiply the patient score by 2, add the caregiver score and divide by 3 to bring the score back to that of the initial scale.

    Time frame: at 7 months

  10. Quality of life measured by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease scale.

    This 13-item scale explores 6 areas of subjective health: fitness, mood, memory, the patient's relationship with family members, financial hardship, and general health. This tool generates quality of life scores per patient ranging from 13 to 52. This score can be weighted by the answers provided by the caregiver. For this weighting, we multiply the patient score by 2, add the caregiver score and divide by 3 to bring the score back to that of the initial scale.

    Time frame: at 12 months

  11. Depression of the patient via the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

    This hetero-evaluation scale is used to assess the depressive symptomatology by exploring 10 components: apparent sadness, expressed sadness, internal tension, sleep reduction, appetite reduction, concentration, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, suicide ideas. Each component is rated from 0 to 6. The total score ranges from 0 to 60, a high score characterizing a depressive symptomatology.

    Time frame: at 3 months

  12. Depression of the patient via the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

    This hetero-evaluation scale is used to assess the depressive symptomatology by exploring 10 components: apparent sadness, expressed sadness, internal tension, sleep reduction, appetite reduction, concentration, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, suicide ideas. Each component is rated from 0 to 6. The total score ranges from 0 to 60, a high score characterizing a depressive symptomatology.

    Time frame: at 7 months

  13. Depression of the patient via the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

    This hetero-evaluation scale is used to assess the depressive symptomatology by exploring 10 components: apparent sadness, expressed sadness, internal tension, sleep reduction, appetite reduction, concentration, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, suicide ideas. Each component is rated from 0 to 6. The total score ranges from 0 to 60, a high score characterizing a depressive symptomatology.

    Time frame: at 12 months

  14. Apathy of the patient via the Apathy inventory.

    This questionnaire that collects information on the presence of apathy in patients suffering from cerebral pathologies. It allows the assessment of three clinical dimensions of apathy: emotional blurring, loss of initiative and loss of interest. The assessment is based on the answers of the accompanying person, and because of this, it can also be carried out in severe deteriorations. The possibility of obtaining the patient's appreciation also makes it possible to evaluate the patient's awareness of his disorders. The evaluation of these 3 dimensions takes into account the frequency (rated from 1 to 4) and the severity of the symptoms (rated from 1 to 3). The score for each dimension is obtained by multiplying these two scores, so that the score for each dimension varies from 0 (absence of the symptom) to 12 (very frequent symptom and of serious gravity)

    Time frame: at 3 months

  15. Apathy of the patient via the Apathy inventory.

    This questionnaire that collects information on the presence of apathy in patients suffering from cerebral pathologies. It allows the assessment of three clinical dimensions of apathy: emotional blurring, loss of initiative and loss of interest. The assessment is based on the answers of the accompanying person, and because of this, it can also be carried out in severe deteriorations. The possibility of obtaining the patient's appreciation also makes it possible to evaluate the patient's awareness of his disorders. The evaluation of these 3 dimensions takes into account the frequency (rated from 1 to 4) and the severity of the symptoms (rated from 1 to 3). The score for each dimension is obtained by multiplying these two scores, so that the score for each dimension varies from 0 (absence of the symptom) to 12 (very frequent symptom and of serious gravity)

    Time frame: at 7 months

  16. Apathy of the patient via the Apathy inventory.

    This questionnaire that collects information on the presence of apathy in patients suffering from cerebral pathologies. It allows the assessment of three clinical dimensions of apathy: emotional blurring, loss of initiative and loss of interest. The assessment is based on the answers of the accompanying person, and because of this, it can also be carried out in severe deteriorations. The possibility of obtaining the patient's appreciation also makes it possible to evaluate the patient's awareness of his disorders. The evaluation of these 3 dimensions takes into account the frequency (rated from 1 to 4) and the severity of the symptoms (rated from 1 to 3). The score for each dimension is obtained by multiplying these two scores, so that the score for each dimension varies from 0 (absence of the symptom) to 12 (very frequent symptom and of serious gravity)

    Time frame: at 12 months

  17. Mortality and institutionalization of patients.

    These events as well as their dates will be collected at each follow-up by psychologists with caregivers, or possibly referring physicians.

    Time frame: at 3 months

  18. Mortality and institutionalization of patients.

    These events as well as their dates will be collected at each follow-up by psychologists with caregivers, or possibly referring physicians.

    Time frame: at 7 months

  19. Mortality and institutionalization of patients.

    These events as well as their dates will be collected at each follow-up by psychologists with caregivers, or possibly referring physicians.

    Time frame: at 12 months

  20. The care processes.

    Treatment (anti-dementia, anti-depressant, antipsychotic), consultation with a medical specialist in the last 3 months, speech therapy, home help and type, perception of Personalized Independence Allowance (APA) and the use of a day care will be collected at each follow-up to determine if maintaining the therapy can influence one or more medical and / or social management processes.

    Time frame: at 3 months

  21. The care processes.

    Treatment (anti-dementia, anti-depressant, antipsychotic), consultation with a medical specialist in the last 3 months, speech therapy, home help and type, perception of Personalized Independence Allowance (APA) and the use of a day care will be collected at each follow-up to determine if maintaining the therapy can influence one or more medical and / or social management processes.

    Time frame: at 7 months

  22. The care processes.

    Treatment (anti-dementia, anti-depressant, antipsychotic), consultation with a medical specialist in the last 3 months, speech therapy, home help and type, perception of Personalized Independence Allowance (APA) and the use of a day care will be collected at each follow-up to determine if maintaining the therapy can influence one or more medical and / or social management processes.

    Time frame: at 12 months

  23. The caregiver burden via the Burden Interview with Zarit

    This questionnaire is composed of 22 items measuring the burden of the caregiver. The score on this questionnaire varies from 0 to 88, a high score characterizing a severe "burden". The questionnaire can also be interpreted qualitatively according to 4 modalities (light, light to moderate, moderate to severe and severe).

    Time frame: at 3 months

  24. The caregiver burden via the Burden Interview with Zarit

    This questionnaire is composed of 22 items measuring the burden of the caregiver. The score on this questionnaire varies from 0 to 88, a high score characterizing a severe "burden". The questionnaire can also be interpreted qualitatively according to 4 modalities (light, light to moderate, moderate to severe and severe).

    Time frame: at 7 months

  25. The caregiver burden via the Burden Interview with Zarit

    This questionnaire is composed of 22 items measuring the burden of the caregiver. The score on this questionnaire varies from 0 to 88, a high score characterizing a severe "burden". The questionnaire can also be interpreted qualitatively according to 4 modalities (light, light to moderate, moderate to severe and severe).

    Time frame: at 12 months

  26. The sense of competence of the caregivers

    This composite questionnaire is constructed based on items from the Zarit scale, and from the Bengtson and Kuypers questionnaire \[66\]. This 35-item questionnaire covers 3 areas: the consequences of caring involvement in the caregiver's personal life, satisfaction with his or her own performance as a caregiver, and patient satisfaction as a recipient of the caregiver's care.

    Time frame: at 3 months

  27. The sense of competence of the caregivers

    This composite questionnaire is constructed based on items from the Zarit scale, and from the Bengtson and Kuypers questionnaire \[66\]. This 35-item questionnaire covers 3 areas: the consequences of caring involvement in the caregiver's personal life, satisfaction with his or her own performance as a caregiver, and patient satisfaction as a recipient of the caregiver's care.

    Time frame: at 7 months

  28. The sense of competence of the caregivers

    This composite questionnaire is constructed based on items from the Zarit scale, and from the Bengtson and Kuypers questionnaire \[66\]. This 35-item questionnaire covers 3 areas: the consequences of caring involvement in the caregiver's personal life, satisfaction with his or her own performance as a caregiver, and patient satisfaction as a recipient of the caregiver's care.

    Time frame: at 12 months

  29. Patient care consumption measured by the RUD Lite scale

    Questionnaire estimating medical and medico-social costs related to patient care. This estimate is based on the assessment of the amount of formal resources (drug treatment, hospitalization, outpatient, day hospital, social services, home care) and informal (care and support provided by the caregiver) implied by the daily care of the patient; the resources are valued economically by using the rates of the health insurance and the hourly costs of the medico-social help at home

    Time frame: at 3 months

  30. Patient care consumption measured by the RUD Lite scale

    Questionnaire estimating medical and medico-social costs related to patient care. This estimate is based on the assessment of the amount of formal resources (drug treatment, hospitalization, outpatient, day hospital, social services, home care) and informal (care and support provided by the caregiver) implied by the daily care of the patient; the resources are valued economically by using the rates of the health insurance and the hourly costs of the medico-social help at home

    Time frame: at 7 months

  31. Patient care consumption measured by the RUD Lite scale

    Questionnaire estimating medical and medico-social costs related to patient care. This estimate is based on the assessment of the amount of formal resources (drug treatment, hospitalization, outpatient, day hospital, social services, home care) and informal (care and support provided by the caregiver) implied by the daily care of the patient; the resources are valued economically by using the rates of the health insurance and the hourly costs of the medico-social help at home

    Time frame: at 12 months

  32. The total cost (health and social) of patient care in each of the groups

    The total cost will be described from the data obtained above for the consumption of care and the management processes

    Time frame: at 7 months

  33. The total cost (health and social) of patient care in each of the groups

    The total cost will be described from the data obtained above for the consumption of care and the management processes

    Time frame: at 12 months

  34. The cost per disorder behavior avoided

    Time frame: at 7 months

  35. The cost per disorder behavior avoided

    Time frame: at 12 months

  36. The cost related to the consequences in terms of quality of life of the patient

    Time frame: at 7 months

  37. The cost related to the consequences in terms of quality of life of the patient

    Time frame: at 12 months

06

Study locations

8 sites
  • Aapam-Ssiad
    Blaignan, 33340, France
  • SESAME
    Bordeaux, 33800, France
  • Castelsanté
    Casteljaloux, 47700, France
  • SSIAD Hauts de garonne
    Cenon, 33150, France
  • SSIAD du bassin d'Arcachon
    La Teste-de-Buch, 33260, France
  • Vie Santé Merignac
    Mérignac, 33700, France
  • AMSADHG
    Saint Savin, 33920, France
  • Equipe Espard
    Talence, 33401, France
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Pimouguet C, Le Goff M, Wittwer J, Dartigues JF, Helmer C. Benefits of Occupational Therapy in Dementia Patients: Findings from a Real-World Observational Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2017;56(2):509-517. doi: 10.3233/JAD-160820. PubMed 27983551 ↗
  • Pimouguet C, Sitta R, Wittwer J, Hayes N, Petit-Moneger A, Dartigues JF, Helmer C. Maintenance of occupational therapy (OT) for dementia: protocol of a multi-center, randomized controlled and pragmatic trial. BMC Geriatr. 2019 Feb 6;19(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s12877-019-1046-x. PubMed 30727947 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03435705
Lead sponsor
University Hospital, Bordeaux
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 19, 2018
Start date
Jan 17, 2018
Primary completion
Nov 4, 2019
Completion
Nov 4, 2019
Last update
Oct 13, 2023

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
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