Best Practice Guidance
Human Interaction with Technology in Dementia

themes: Experience Sampling Method (ESM)

3.1

Practical, cognitive & social factors to improve usability of technology for people with dementia

Technologies are increasingly vital in today’s activities in homes and communities. Nevertheless, little attention has been given to the consequences of the increasing complexity and reliance on them, for example, at home, in shops, traffic situations, meaningful activities and health care services. The users’ ability to manage products and services has been largely neglected or taken for granted. People with dementia often do not use the available technology because it does not match their needs and capacities. This section provides recommendations to improve the usability of technology used in daily life, for meaningful activities, in healthcare and in the context of promoting the Social Health of people with dementia.
3.1.2
Technology for meaningful activities
3.1.2.3

Everyday fluctuations

Screenshot of video: Digital Diary - Monitoring Everyday Life in Dementia and Ageing

Guidance

Consider using smartphone-based experience sampling apps to measure everyday fluctuations of variables such as mood, behaviors, or cognition in people with mild cognitive impairments or carers of people with dementia to better understand variations in daily experiences.

Explanation and examples

The ‘Partner in Sight’ intervention for carers of people with dementia, the ‘Monitor-Mi’ study (feasibility of the experience sampling method (ESM) in people with MCI), and the development of two cognitive tasks (mDSST; mVSWMT), all included the experience sampling method (ESM). These studies are first steps towards a better understanding of and support for people with cognitive impairments, such as MCI or dementia, and their carers in everyday life.

The results indicate positive effects on carers’ well-being, feasibility of using the ESM in people with MCI, and internal validity when assessing momentary cognition in healthy older individuals. The experience sampling method has a high ecological validity with a reduced memory bias, allows to see fluctuations, and uncovers a complex picture of affect, behaviour, and other variables in everyday life. It can be used to increase awareness of own daily patterns and motivate behavioural changes towards more meaningful activities.

Read more >
3.2

Evaluating the effectiveness of specific contemporary technology

The rapid growth of the technological landscape and related new services have the potential to improve the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health and social services and facilitate social participation and engagement in activities. But which technology is effective and how is this evaluated best? This section provides recommendations to evaluate the effectiveness of technology in daily life, meaningful activities and healthcare services as well as of technologies aimed to promote the Social Health of people with dementia. Examples of useful technologies in some of these areas are provided.
3.2.2.2

Personalized feedback and sustained support for carers using the experience sampling method

Figure 1. Change pathways through self-monitoring and feedback (based on the ‘Partner in Sight’ intervention elements) Note: PA= positive affect; NA= negative affect; SoC= Sense of Competence

Guidance

When using smartphone-based digital self-monitoring/experience sampling in carers of people with dementia, consider providing personalized feedback to promote emotional well-being and stimulate the undertaking of more activities they enjoy (e.g. relaxation activities).

Explanation and examples

‘Experience sampling’ (ESM)-based smartphone apps can offer solutions to raise awareness of enjoyable activities, strengthen learned coping strategies, and provide (long- term) support in everyday life. The ‘Partner in Sight’ intervention has been found to decrease perceived stress as well as negative affect, and to increase sense of competence in carers.

However, an increase in passive relaxation activities was only achieved with personalized feedback. Long-term support could be achieved by adding additional features, such as booster sessions, micro interventions (short version of the original intervention) or ad-hoc counseling after the main intervention period, through cost-effective and common technologies (smartphone apps, webpages, emails, telephones).

Read more >