Nature Video to Improve Older Adult Health: A Feasibility Study.

University of Southern California

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Mild Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment

Treatments: Other: Neutral Video; Other: Immersive Nature Video

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03722316

NatureFeasibility2018

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background: Exposure to nature has a positive impact on a multitude of health-related outcomes such as stress, attention, recovery after surgery, and overall well-being. There is growing interest in determining the impact of vicarious nature experiences delivered through multimedia platforms on the well-being of persons at high risk for poor psychosocial outcomes, as is the case in older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia.

Objectives/Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of providing an immersive nature-based multimedia experience to older adults with MCI or mild dementia. A secondary purpose is to identify the potential health benefits of this intervention.

Methodology: A convenience sample of 40 older adults (65+ years old) with and without mild cognitive complaints will be recruited from a Los Angeles senior service partner. Participation will include three visits. The first visit will include the consent process, cognitive testing, and questionnaire completion. The second and third visits will consist of a video session followed immediately by a group discussion regarding the content in the videos. The two video sessions will be administered in a randomized and counterbalanced manner one week apart. One video involves a 15-minute immersive nature-based experience and the other includes a 15-minute clip that presents emotionally "neutral" educational content. Both sessions will be immediately followed by a group discussion of the content in the videos and how it relates to past experiences.

Outcomes and Analysis: Process evaluation data associated with recruitment, screening eligibility, involvement of personnel, assessment administration, and retention will be collected to determine overall study feasibility. Additionally, selected assessments will be administered at each multimedia experience during key time points to examine potential short-term health benefits.

Enrollment: 25 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Speaks and understands English
• Mild cognitive impairment/mild dementia or normal cognition
• Minor complaints with thinking or memory
• Demonstrate the cognitive capacity to understand and consent to research procedures and to communicate his/her decision

Exclusion criteria

• Self-reported phobias that could be triggered by nature-based videos

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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25 participants in 2 patient groups

MCI/Mild Dementia

Experimental group

Description:

Twenty participants will be allocated to this arm if they demonstrate mild impairments in cognition based on a cognitive screening phase. Participants enrolled in this arm will be arranged in groups of 5. They will attend a paperwork visit and two video-viewing sessions (order is randomized) held approximately one week apart: (1) brief immersive nature-based video experience + group discussion and (2) comparison condition that includes presentation of a relatively "neutral," un-arousing documentary + group discussion. Each video lasts approximately 15 minutes. Using a semi-structured group discussion guide, participants will be prompted to talk about what they saw in the video and relate video content to their own lives and experiences.

Treatment:

Other: Neutral Video

Other: Immersive Nature Video

Healthy Older Adults

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants are allocated to this arm if they demonstrate healthy cognition based on a cognitive screening phase. Participants enrolled in this arm will be arranged in groups of 5. They will attend a paperwork visit and two video-viewing sessions (order is randomized) held approximately one week apart: (1) brief immersive nature-based video experience + group discussion and (2) comparison condition that includes presentation of a relatively "neutral," un-arousing documentary + group discussion. Each video lasts approximately 15 minutes. Using a semi-structured group discussion guide, participants will be prompted to talk about what they saw in the video and relate video content to their own lives and experiences.

Treatment:

Other: Neutral Video

Other: Immersive Nature Video