Online Personalised Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday (OPTIMiSE) Program for Older Adults with Cognitive Concerns: Pilot Study Protocol

Kerryn E Pike; Carl I Moller; Christina Bryant; Maree Farrow; Duy P Dao; Kathryn A Ellis

doi:10.3233/ADR-200251

Online Personalised Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday (OPTIMiSE) Program for Older Adults with Cognitive Concerns: Pilot Study Protocol

J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2021 Feb 24;5(1):143-152. doi: 10.3233/ADR-200251.

Authors

Kerryn E Pike¹, Carl I Moller¹, Christina Bryant², Maree Farrow³, Duy P Dao¹, Kathryn A Ellis^{2

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Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
² Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
⁴ Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

Memory interventions for older adults with cognitive concerns result in improved memory performance and maintenance of cognitive health. These programs are typically delivered face-to-face, which is resource intensive and creates access barriers, particularly for those with reduced mobility, limited transportation, and living in rural or remote areas. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an additional access barrier, given the increased risk this disease poses to older adults. Internet-based interventions seek to overcome these barriers. This paper describes the protocol of a pilot study that aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of one such internet-based intervention: the Online Personalised Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday (OPTIMiSE) program. OPTIMiSE focuses on improving knowledge regarding memory and providing training in effective memory strategies for everyday life. The pilot study described in this protocol will be a single-arm pre-post study of 8 weeks duration, with a single maintenance session 3 months post-intervention. Participants will be Australian adults aged ≥60 years reporting cognitive changes compared with 10 years ago. Primary outcome measures will address feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy. Secondary outcome measures assessing sense of community and self-efficacy will be administered at the 8-week and 3-month timepoints. Data collection will conclude mid-2021, and results will be presented in a subsequent publication. Translation of memory interventions to internet-based delivery has the potential to remove many access barriers for older adults; however, the acceptability and feasibility of this modality needs investigation. OPTIMiSE is the initial step in what could be an important program enabling access to an evidence-based memory intervention for older adults worldwide. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), ACTRN12620000979954.

Keywords: Aged; aging; cognition; internet-based intervention; learning; memory; self efficacy; social support.

Publication types

Clinical Trial