title: Computer Activities for Persons With Dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study examined participant's experience and individual characteristics during a 7-week computer activity program for persons with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The descriptive study with mixed methods design collected 612 observational logs of computer sessions from 27 study participants, including individual interviews before and after the program. Quantitative data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlational coefficients, t-test, and chi-square. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each participant averaged 23 sessions and 591min for 7 weeks. Computer activities included slide shows with music, games, internet use, and emailing. On average, they had a high score of intensity in engagement per session. Women attended significantly more sessions than men. Higher education level was associated with a higher number of different activities used per session and more time spent on online games. Older participants felt more tired. Feeling tired was significantly correlated with a higher number of weeks with only one session attendance per week. More anticholinergic medications taken by participants were significantly associated with a higher percentage of sessions with disengagement. The findings were significant at p < .05. Qualitative content analysis indicated tailoring computer activities appropriate to individual's needs and functioning is critical. All participants needed technical assistance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A framework for tailoring computer activities may provide guidance on developing and maintaining treatment fidelity of tailored computer activity interventions among persons with dementia. Practice guidelines and education protocols may assist caregivers and service providers to integrate computer activities into homes and aging services settings.
authors.affiliation: Loewenberg School of Nursing, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee. shtak@memphis.edu.
authors.forename: Sunghee H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Pulaski Central Unit, Arkansas Department of Health, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Hetal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Song Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003201:Computers; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States
keywords: Critical characteristics; Dementia; Person-centered care; Technology