Three Dimensional Puzzle (3D Puzzle) Game Applied to Geriatric Individuals Cognitive Skills and Impact on Life Engagement

Title: Three Dimensional Puzzle (3D Puzzle) Game Applied to Geriatric Individuals Cognitive Skills and Impact on Life Engagement* Objective: The research is a randomized controlled experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design conducted to evaluate the effects of a three-dimensional puzzle (3D puzzle) game applied to geriatric individuals on cognitive skills and life engagement.

Materials and Methods: The study was completed with a total of 40 individuals, 20 in the intervention group and 20 in the control group, at the Bolvadin Nursing Home affiliated with the Afyonkarahisar Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. The 3D puzzle game was administered to the individuals in the intervention group, three days a week, for a total of 10 weeks. Three-dimensional puzzle figures, with pieces ranging from 20 to 50, were administered in 30 sessions, each with a different figure. The Standardized Mini Mental Test was used in the sample selection process. Research data were collected using the "Introductory Information Form," the "Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale," the "Life Engagement Scale," the "Individual Tracking Form," and the "Three-Dimensional Puzzle Assessment Form." Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Chi-square (χ²) independent samples t-test, dependent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon rank-order tests.

Results: At the end of the three-dimensional puzzle game, a significant increase in the mean MOCA score of the geriatric individuals in the intervention group was observed (p<0.001). In terms of the cognitive dimensions of the MOCA scale, significant improvements were observed in the "Attention and Concentration" cognitive dimension (p=0.006) and the "Visual Construction Skills" cognitive dimension (p=0.001) in the intervention group. Following the 3D puzzle game, it was determined that the mean Life Engagement Scale score of the geriatric individuals in the intervention group showed a significant increase (p=0.012).

Conclusion: The study determined that the 3D puzzle game applied to geriatric individuals had a positive effect on cognitive skills and life engagement.