The objectives of this study were to develop and pilot-test Brain Health Together (BHT), a 12-week, virtual-group program that combines our evidence-based, mind-body, group movement program with brain health education and coaching to reduce dementia risk through targeting modifiable risk factors among older adults with cognitive impairment.
Our study design for developing, pilot-testing, and refining the BHT program was conducted in 2 phases. In Phase 1, the investigators used a human-centered design approach to deeply understand and respond to the needs, challenges, and motivations of potential users when developing the BHT program. In Phase 2, the investigators performed a pilot study to refine BHT program content and assess acceptability and potential feasibility.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
16
Each week, the program included a 1-hour group brain health education class, a 1-hour group Moving Together class, and a 30-minute individual brain health coaching session (total: 2.5 hours/week). Before the first session, participants were asked to complete a brief online survey about lifestyle behaviors and medical conditions related to dementia risk. The first 4 brain health education classes focused on general content to introduce and reinforce the concept that healthy lifestyle behaviors and management of chronic medical conditions can improve cognitive function, delay cognitive decline, and potentially prevent dementia. Another goal was to introduce participants to health coaching and to help participants each set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-limited (SMART) goals to improve brain health. The remaining 8 weeks were adjusted to accommodate participant feedback in the early portion of the pilot study.
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
Intervention Feasibility
To examine feasibility, the investigators tracked participant attendance, calculated as the mean±standard deviation (SD) of sessions completed by each participant.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Acceptability
The investigators asked participants how likely they are to recommend BHT to others on a scale from 0 (not at all likely) to 10 (extremely likely) and calculated a net promoter score as the percentage of promoters (scores of 9 or 10) minus the percentage of detractors (scores of 0 to 6).
Time frame: 12 weeks
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