Development and evaluation of a training app for people with mild cognitive impairment
At a glance
- Project leader : Dr. Marina Bruderer-Hofstetter
- Deputy of project leader : Dr. Anne-Kathrin Rausch
- Project team : Roland Deininger , Emiel Eijwoudt, Sara Tomovic
- Project budget : CHF 20'000
- Project status : ongoing
- Funding partner : Other
- Contact person : Marina Bruderer-Hofstetter
Description
Physical activity and training that comply with national and international physical activity recommendations have an undisputed positive effect on health, well-being, and quality of life, regardless of age and possible pre-existing conditions, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, behavioral change in terms of long-term adherence related to physical training is not easy to achieve. New technologies, particularly smartphone and tablet-based applications (APP), can be supportive if they allow for individualized training and continuous adaptation, documentation, and goal setting.
This project aims to convert an existing training manual and accompanying handout for physical training for people with mild cognitive impairment into an APP and to evaluate the feasibility, acceptance, and usability of the APP.
In the first phase, the technical implementation of the training manual and handout will be done with a user-centered approach. The APP’s functionalities and design will be defined in a participatory approach. The first phase will be completed with functionality testing. In a second phase, the APP's feasibility, acceptance, and usability will be investigated in a sequential explanatory mixed methods design from the perspective of physiotherapists and persons with mild cognitive impairment. The evaluation results will be used to optimize the APP if necessary.