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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06578819

Doll Therapy for Agitated Elderly Dementia People

This study is designed to determine the effect of doll therapy on the levels of agitation, nutrition, and daily living activities in elderly patients with dementia and agitation.

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Key information

About this study

Elderly patients with agitation and dementia incur significant costs for healthcare services. Additionally, it is known that agitation can impose a burden on caregivers and has the potential to cause harm to the individual and those around them. This study is planned to determine the effect of doll therapy on the levels of agitation, nutrition, and daily living activities in elderly patients with dementia and agitation.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Aged 65 years or older, met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for dementia, clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, diagnosis of dementia (moderate or severe) confirmed by a neurologist, must be able to swallow tablets, had sufficient hand motor skills to hold and care for a doll, had adequate visual acuity to recognize the doll, had no significant communication impairments, were personally willing to participate in the study, had the consent of their legal guardians or family members for participation in the study. Exhibiting agitation, defined as a score of 35 or higher on the long form of the CMAI.

Exclusion criteria

Participants were excluded from the study if they had a diagnosis of mild dementia, were experiencing an acute exacerbation of a systemic illness, or had a diagnosed psychological disorder, Insulin dependent diabetes and thyroid disease. Additionally, elderly individuals who experienced difficulty accepting and forming a relationship with the doll after two attempts were excluded from the study. Those who initially accepted the doll but later abandoned it were also excluded. Lastly, participants who reported that the doll triggered negative associations or adverse emotional responses were excluded.

Treatment and study plan

Doll Therapy

Behavioral

Doll therapy applied to the experimental group 4 days a week.

Primary outcomes

  1. The Edinburgh feeding evaluation in dementia (EdFED) scale (Nutrition)

    Time frame: 12 week

    One standardized assessment tool administered to both the moderate and severe dementia groups at three time points: at the beginning of the study, at the midpoint (week 6), and at the end (week 12). These tool included the EdFED. The scale consists of 11 items and can be administered in less than five minutes. The first 10 items address feeding behaviors during meals; each item is scored based on the frequency of occurrence. If the behavior does not occur during meals, it is scored as "never" (0 points), if it occurs 2-3 times a week it is scored as "sometimes" (1 point), and if it occurs more than 4 times a week, it is scored as "often" (2 points). There is no cutoff score or reverse scoring in the scale. The total score obtained from the first 10 items ranges from 0 to 20, with a score of 20 indicating the most severe condition. The total score can be used to track changes in the patient's nutritional status. The level of support the patient requires is determined by item 11.

  2. Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (Agitation)

    Time frame: 12 week

    One standardized assessment tool administered to both the moderate and severe dementia groups at three time points: at the beginning of the study, at the midpoint (week 6), and at the end (week 12). These tool included the CMAI. The CMAI uses a Likert scale, where each item is scored from "1 never" to "7 several times per hour." The total score is calculated based on a maximum of 32 items, with a possible total score range from 29 to 181.

  3. Katz Daily Life Activities Scale (Daily activities)

    Time frame: 12 week

    One standardized assessment tool administered to both the moderate and severe dementia groups at three time points: at the beginning of the study, at the midpoint (week 6), and at the end (week 12). These tool included the Katz ADL. The scale assigns scores to daily activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, continence, and feeding. Based on the total score, the individual's level of dependence is classified as follows: 0-6 points indicate dependence, 7-12 points indicate partial dependence, and 13-18 points indicate independence. Each item on the Katz ADL scale includes response options indicating whether the individual is independent, partially dependent, or dependent. The scale assesses six fundamental activities: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding.

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Edinburgh feeding evaluation in dementia (EdFED) scale (Nutrition)

    Time frame: 12 week

    One standardized assessment tool administered to both the moderate and severe dementia groups at three time points: at the beginning of the study, at the midpoint (week 6), and at the end (week 12). These tool included the EdFED. The scale consists of 11 items and can be administered in less than five minutes. The first 10 items address feeding behaviors during meals; each item is scored based on the frequency of occurrence. If the behavior does not occur during meals, it is scored as "never" (0 points), if it occurs 2-3 times a week it is scored as "sometimes" (1 point), and if it occurs more than 4 times a week, it is scored as "often" (2 points). There is no cutoff score or reverse scoring in the scale. The total score obtained from the first 10 items ranges from 0 to 20, with a score of 20 indicating the most severe condition. The total score can be used to track changes in the patient's nutritional status. The level of support the patient requires is determined by item 11.

  2. Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (Agitation)

    Time frame: 12 week

    One standardized assessment tool administered to both the moderate and severe dementia groups at three time points: at the beginning of the study, at the midpoint (week 6), and at the end (week 12). These tool included the CMAI. The CMAI uses a Likert scale, where each item is scored from "1 never" to "7 several times per hour." The total score is calculated based on a maximum of 32 items, with a possible total score range from 29 to 181.

  3. Katz Daily Life Activities Scale (Daily activities)

    Time frame: 12 week

    One standardized assessment tool administered to both the moderate and severe dementia groups at three time points: at the beginning of the study, at the midpoint (week 6), and at the end (week 12). These tool included the Katz ADL. The scale assigns scores to daily activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, continence, and feeding. Based on the total score, the individual's level of dependence is classified as follows: 0-6 points indicate dependence, 7-12 points indicate partial dependence, and 13-18 points indicate independence. Each item on the Katz ADL scale includes response options indicating whether the individual is independent, partially dependent, or dependent. The scale assesses six fundamental activities: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Karadeniz Technical University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluating the Impact of Doll Therapy on Agitation, Nutritional Status, and Activities of Daily Living in Agitated Older Adults With Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: DT

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Aug 29, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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