Life Story Questionnaire and Physical Therapy Participation

Background: Dementia is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function. Dementia disease prevalence is substantially increased among people aged 65 years or older, with a progressive decline in memory, thinking, language and learning capacity. Although physical exercise benefits dementia patients, participation in activities is exceedingly difficult due to communication and cognitive impairments. Several studies demonstrated that life story books usage improved quality of life, depression symptoms, moods and participation in activity in people with dementia. However, these studies did not evaluate the effect of Life Story Questionnaire (LSQ) - a type of life story book - on physical therapy participation, depression symptoms, quality of life. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of LSQ on (1) participation in physical therapy using Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale; (2) quality of life using Quality of Life - Alzheimer's Disease Scale (participant's version); and (3) depression symptoms using Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD). Methods: A consecutive sample of convenience of up to 60 patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment with 44 (22 per group) completing the study will be recruited from a nursing home facility. Patients will be randomly allocated in two groups: (1) Control group, which will receive standard physical therapy care without LSQ use; and (2) Experimental group, where physical therapists will use the LSQ. Each patient's family member will receive a LSQ to complete prior to the start of the intervention. Patients' participation, quality of life and depression symptoms will be measured on day 1 and again after 3 weeks (mid-term), and 6 weeks of intervention. Quality of life and depression symptoms will also be measured 6 weeks following intervention. A licensed occupational therapist blinded to the participants' group allocation will measure all three dependent variables Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics including means, standard deviations, frequency counts, median, mode, variance and frequency counts will be used to assess sample demographics. The Rank Sum test will be used to assess differences in Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale between the intervention and control group. Spearman Rank correlations will be used to determine the strength of the correlation between Mini-Mental state examination, Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale and Quality of Life Alzheimer Disease.