Effects of a Taiwanese Adaptation of the Group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Program on Mild-To-Moderate Dementia: A Quasi-Experimental Trial

ABSTRACT

Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) was found to significantly improve cognitive function and quality of life (QOL) in patients with mild-to-moderate dementia in the UK. However, indigenous research on older adults with dementia in Taiwan is scarce. Therefore, this study developed and investigated the effects of a Taiwan version of group CST (CST-T) through a quasi-experimental trial. Excluding the dropouts, there were 13 experimental participants (M = 78.9 ± 9.0) and 13 control participants (77.9 ± 5.6). The results indicated significant improvements in cognitive function, QOL, and daily life functioning in the experimental group compared with the control group, and these effects remained evident at a 3-month follow-up.

KEYWORDS:

• Older adults
• dementia
• cognitive stimulation therapy group
• quality of life
• instrumental activities of daily living
• depression

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the social workers and other members of four Taiwanese day-care centers who helped this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [Grant No. MOST 109-2410-H-276-001].