Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38843088›Full record

Trial reportThe Gerontologist2024

Virtual Group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Dementia: Mixed-Methods Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aimee Spector, Nur Diyanah Abdul Wahab, Joshua Stott, Emily Fisher, Esther K Hui, Luke Perkins, Wing Gi Leung, Rachel Evans, Gloria Wong, Cerne Felstead

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in The Gerontologist, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Aimee SpectorDepartment of Clinical, Health, and Educational Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Nur Diyanah Abdul WahabDepartment of Clinical, Health, and Educational Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Joshua StottDepartment of Clinical, Health, and Educational Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Emily FisherDepartment of Clinical, Health, and Educational Psychology, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8110-8405
Esther K HuiDepartment of Clinical, Health, and Educational Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Luke PerkinsDepartment of Clinical, Health, and Educational Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Wing Gi LeungDepartment of Clinical, Health, and Educational Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Rachel EvansUniversity of Bangor, North Wales Medical School, Bangor, UK.
Gloria WongDepartment of Social work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Kong Kong, Kong Kong.ORCID 0000-0002-1331-942X
Cerne FelsteadDepartment of Psychology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesCognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is an evidence-based group intervention for people with dementia, with benefits for cognition and quality of life when delivered face-to-face. Many people are unable to attend face-to-face groups for reasons including health and transport issues. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of online or "virtual" CST (vCST). RESEARCH DESIGN AND

methodsSingle-blind, randomized controlled feasibility design with qualitative interviews. Forty-six people with mild-to-moderate dementia were randomly allocated to attend either 14 sessions of twice-weekly vCST (n = 24) or treatment as usual (TAU, defined as usual care; n = 22) over 7 weeks. Cognition, quality of life, and depression were assessed pre- and posttreatment. Qualitative interviews (n = 16) with participants and carers were analyzed using thematic analysis.

resultsHigh levels of attendance, adherence, fidelity to the manual, and completion of outcomes were recorded. Recruitment appeared feasible although randomization may not have been acceptable to some. There were no statistical differences noted between vCST and TAU in any of the outcomes evaluated, although both quantitative and qualitative data indicated acceptability, with qualitative reports of improved outcomes including cognition. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: vCST appeared feasible to deliver but did not result in any changes in outcomes, as expected from an underpowered feasibility trial. CST is the main psychosocial intervention delivered for dementia in UK memory services and globally, with many services moving towards virtual CST delivery. Therefore, a fully powered RCT of the effectiveness of vCST is feasible and justified.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyDementiaFeasibility StudiesQuality of LifeAgedAged, 80 and overCognitionDepressionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPsychotherapy, GroupQualitative ResearchSingle-Blind MethodTreatment OutcomeInterventionPsychosocialTechnology

Identifiers

PMID38843088
PMCPMC11261826

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.