Clinical Research Directory

Physiotherapy Practice in Flemish Nursing Homes

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the extent to which physiotherapy sessions in Flemish nursing homes adhere to the IAGG-GARN guidelines and to explore factors influencing clinical practice among physiotherapists. The study targets multiple nursing homes across Flanders, with 3 to 5 centers in each of the provinces of Limburg, Antwerp, and Flemish Brabant. This selection ensures variation in geographic location and organizational context. The participants in this study are physiotherapists working in the participating nursing homes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * To what extent do the physiotherapy sessions align with the IAGG-GARN guidelines? * Are there differences in physiotherapy session content and volume according to physiotherapist characteristics and resident characteristics? * What barriers and facilitators do physiotherapists experience when implementing guideline-based practice in Flemish nursing homes? Researchers will observe physiotherapy sessions delivered as part of routine care and document session content and duration using structured observation diaries. Participating physiotherapists will also take part in focus groups discussing experiences with guideline implementation, barriers, facilitators, and clinical decision-making.

Effects of Positive Psychology on Hope, Gratitude, and Well-Being

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effects of an eight-week, group-based positive psychology program on hope, gratitude, and mental well-being among adults aged 65 years and older living in nursing homes in Gaziantep, Türkiye. Approximately 60 participants will be assigned to an intervention group or a control group, with 30 participants planned for each group. The intervention group will receive eight weekly positive psychology sessions, each lasting 40-45 minutes, based on the PERMA model and adapted to older adults. The program will address positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning in life, accomplishment, hope, gratitude, and psychological well-being. The control group will receive no intervention during the study period and will be provided with an educational guide about the program after study completion. Hope, gratitude, and mental well-being will be assessed using the Herth Hope Scale, Gratitude Scale, and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, respectively. Assessments will be conducted before the intervention, immediately after the eight-week program, and at a two-month follow-up. The study aims to determine whether the positive psychology program improves these outcomes among older adults living in nursing homes.

Technology Use, Safe Health Information, and Artificial Intelligence Among Older Adults

Objective The aim of this research is to evaluate how improving the technology use skills of older adults in nursing homes changes their perceptions of access to safe health information and the use of artificial intelligence. Hypotheses H1: Improving the technology use skills of older adults in nursing homes changes their perceptions of access to safe health information and the use of artificial intelligence.

MAÏA - MAintain the Level of Independence Through Alimentation

Malnutrition has serious consequences: increased risk of falls, hospitalization and mortality. Malnutrition may accompany or aggravate another geriatric syndrome. The loss of muscle mass and function, called "sarcopenia" can itself lead to a loss of physical activity and therefore of independence. It has been reported that changes in the quantity or quality of food intake could influence the onset or progression of sarcopenia. Thus, an optimized oral diet covering the energy and protein needs of the elderly people living in a nursing home is a key element of the malnutrition prevention strategy. It could help slow down the loss of independence and have a direct impact on the occurrence of the complications mentioned above, and therefore on the use of care. In the elderly, as in the general population, the consumption of linoleic acid (LA), precursor of the omega 6 line, is too high, and that of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), precursor of the omega 3 line, insufficient. The French National Institute against Cancer (INCA) 3 survey results indicate for the 65-79 year old population average ALA intakes of 0.9 g/d whereas the recommendation is 2 g/d. The same is true for long-chain n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)). There are currently no recommendations specifically concerning nursing home populations. Only recommendations for non-frail people, over the age of 65, exist (ANSES, 2019). Experts recommend maintaining or even slightly increasing the consumption of portions of meat, eggs, fish, fruits and vegetables and dairy products. In the elderly, as in adults, an imbalance of n-6/n-3 PUFA intake or insufficient n-3 PUFA intake could facilitate the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. The possible prevention of other pathologies more specific to the elderly, such as degenerative diseases, makes the consumption of n-3 PUFAs relevant in this population. Our approach aiming to cover the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) of n-3 PUFAs via the oral diet is therefore very original. An oral diet containing these different sources of fatty acid intake, of various origins, and other essential nutrients for the elderly, would have the advantage of meeting the nutritional objectives on the one hand, and of offering a wide range of tastes, flavors, and texture, allowing to optimize their consumption by nursing home residents, on the other hand. No study has yet evaluated the benefits of n-3 PUFA intake in dependent elderly people residing in nursing homes, moreover, using loss of independence as the main endpoint. The main objective of the trial is to evaluate the effect of an everyday diet containing n-3 PUFA intakes corresponding to the RDA (population \> 65 years) compared to the usual diet (therefore uncontrolled) on the evolution of the loss of independence at 2 years of nursing home residents.

Use of the KASPARD System for Fall Prevention in Nursing Homes

Falls are a frequent cause of admission to nursing homes \[2\]. It is also the most frequently reported adverse event in these institutions. The prevention of falls in EHPAD must mobilise several levers of action and involve all staff. It must be included in the establishment's project in the same way as the policy on the proper use of restraints \[21\]. Home automation and new technologies can contribute to the prevention of falls and their consequences. Most of the existing solutions on the market are either fall detection solutions based on a watch or pendant or rise detection solutions based on a sub-mattress or floor mat. All of these solutions work with a contact and often require a daily set-up or check by the care teams. But the real challenge today for new technologies is to prevent falls in the elderly, by directly addressing the risk factors. KASPARD is a non-contact (remote sensors) and non-intrusive (no video image, it uses point cloud technology) solution for detecting falls, excessive wandering and nocturnal activities in a nursing home. The information is transmitted securely via the wifi network to a mobile phone (or TSI/DECT) and to a computer. The KASPARD solution, which is already on the market (non-medical CE marking), is used in several EHPADs in Belgium and France. It is not a medical device. To date, it has a sensitivity and specificity of over 90% (manufacturer's unpublished data). We wish to verify the effectiveness of the KASPARD technology for the prevention of falls in EHPAD, suggested for the moment by an observational study, with the help of a multi-centre clinical study

The Effect of Swallowing Exercise and Maneuver Program For Older Adults With Dysphagia in Nursing Home

This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured swallowing exercise and maneuver program for older adults with dysphagia living in a nursing home. Dysphagia, or difficulty in swallowing, is common in elderly populations and may lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia. In this study, 72 participants aged 60 years and older were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received a combined swallowing exercise and maneuver program-including Masako Maneuver, Chin Tuck Against Resistance, Supraglottic Swallow, and Super-Supraglottic Swallow-performed three times daily before meals over a six-week period. The control group received standard care, including upright sitting posture during meals. Swallowing ability was measured using the EAT-10 questionnaire. The intervention group showed significant improvement in swallowing scores, while no meaningful changes were observed in the control group. This study suggests that nurse-led swallowing exercises can be a safe, simple, and effective strategy to improve swallowing function and quality of life in older adults living in long-term care settings.

Evaluation of the Use of a Novel Oral Health Screening Instrument by Caregivers in Nursing Homes

BACKGROUND: Oral health of nursing home residents is often poor. Oral health is related to general health, quality of life and well-being. Health care providers in nursing homes can be seen as important intermediaries to improve oral health as they are responsible for the residents' daily care and as they could regularly check resident's oral health. The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the use of a new oral health screening tool for older adults in nursing homes (OHS-interRAI) in an everyday context. This tool is included in the Belgian version of the International Resident Assessment Instrument for long-term care facilities and will be used by healthcare providers without a dental background. The evaluation will be done at different levels using mixed methods. The main questions this study aims to answer at level of the residents are: * What is the effect of regular oral health assessment on oral health of the residents? * How do residents perceive oral health and experience the regular oral health assessments? At level of the health care providers the main questions are: * How do they experience the use of the OHS-interRAI for oral health assessments? * To what extent are the assessments by health care providers comparable to assessments performed by oral health professionals? METHODS: This research will compare the outcomes of nursing homes using the OHS-interRAI with outcomes of nursing homes using the oral health screening tool which is currently used in Belgian nursing homes. Nursing homes will be assigned randomly to the different groups. Both healthcare providers and residents assign for participation. Healthcare providers will follow a training on how to perform the screening with the OHS-interRAI and to monitor residents' oral health. Residents agree to regular oral health assessments by their healthcare providers every six months over a 2-years period.