title: The impact of individualized interaction on the quality of life of elderly dependent on care as a result of dementia: a study with a pre-post design.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to assess the impact of a one-to-one 30-min individualized interaction per day on the behavior and quality of life of care-dependent residents with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a pre-/post-test study, 15 care-dependent residents with dementia (mean age 88.8 years, 86.7% women) were included. Resident behavior was measured using video observation and quality of life using Qualidem. Health care professionals (n = 13) and direct relatives (n = 4) were interviewed about the effect of the intervention. The effect of the intervention was analyzed using the Friedman analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The video observation showed that maintaining eye contact, touching, responding to speaking, tracking observable stimuli and asking questions about the activity significantly increased during the intervention. These findings were supported by interviews with nurses who described experiences of making human-to-human contact with the residents. No significant overall changes were found in quality of life. These findings were partially supported by interviews with health care professionals and relatives as some perceived effects beyond the 30-min intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interaction offered on a one-to-one basis tailored to individual preferences significantly improved positive interactive behavior of care-dependent residents with dementia during the intervention. Surveys revealed no significant overall effect of the intervention. The interviews indicated there might be effects beyond the intervention for some residents.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Elderly Care and Palliative Care, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Deventer/Enschede, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hilde M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: de Vocht
authors.forename: A M G Marcella
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hoogeboom
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Niekerk
authors.forename: Marjolein E M
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: den Ouden
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011788:Quality of Life