Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. Trials aimed at preventing cognitive decline through cognitive stimulation among those with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment are of significant importance in delaying the onset of dementia and reducing dementia prevalence.
One challenge in these prevention trials is sample recruitment bias. Those willing to volunteer for these trials could be socially active, in relatively good health, and have high educational levels and cognitive function. We developed a randomized controlled trial to examine whether conversation-based cognitive stimulation delivered through personal computers, a webcam and the internet would have a positive effect on cognitive function among older adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment.
To examine the selectivity of samples, we conducted a mass mail-in survey distribution among community-dwelling older adults, assessing factors associated with a willingness to participate in the trial. Two thousand mail-in surveys were distributed to retirement communities in order to collect data on demographics, the nature and frequency of social activities, personal computer use and additional health-related variables, and interest in the prevention study.
We also asked for their contact information if they were interested in being contacted as potential participants in the trial. Of 1, surveys returned Among them, showed interest in the study and provided their contact information operationally defined as the committed with interest group , 74 provided contact information without interest in the study committed without interest group , 66 showed interest, but provided no contact information interest only group , and showed no interest and provided no contact information no interest group.
The trial was registered on 29 March at ClinicalTirals. Keywords: Sample recruitment selection bias, Volunteer bias, Behavioral randomized controlled trial, PC, Internet, Webcam, Conversation-based social interaction, Cognitive function, Mild cognitive impairment. Faced with an aging population and a growing number of people with dementia, it is critical that we develop effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological prevention treatments. Thus, developing behavioral intervention strategies to delay or prevent cognitive decline has increasing importance for public health benefits.
