Véronique Dubost’s scientific contributions

Background: Neuropsychiatric behaviours of the elderly is the main issue for caregivers' distress, burn out and high turn-over. This situation will steadily worsen with longer lifetime. Aim of the study: Specialised training of medical staff may decrease their distress: we compare both training programs Humanitude® et Formadep® outcomes. Methods: A comparative open multicentric non randomised study included 459 elderlies of 9 EHPAD of Korian Company into 3 training groups: Humanitude®, Formadep® and a group control, with 29 weeks follow-up. We studied the scoring NPI-ES (FG and R), BMS-10, ECPA and GIR, medications, caregivers' burn out/absences/turn-over levels. Statistical significance were done by Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Ancova and linear regression. Results: 320 caregivers and 3 groups of nearly 150 elderlies each, with around 50% dementia. In Formadep® group : lower scoring for a short time of total NPI-R (p<0.05), sustained lower scoring of NPI-FG « agitation/agressivity» (p=0.035) but transitional for its NPI-R (p<0.05), sustained higher scoring of NPI-FG «apathy/indifference» (p=0.002) but transitional for its NPI-R (p=0 .003), sustained lower scoring of NPI-R (p=0.0039) for Motor Aberrant Behaviours (MAB). In Humanitude® group: transitional higher scoring of NPI-R (p=0.025) for MAB et transitional lower scoring NPI-R (p=0.0032) for depression (Alzheimer Disease sub-groupe). No change for other parameters. Conclusion: Despite high variability of the neuropsychiatric behaviours in elderly, Formadep® training has shown a positive impact on the global distress and on three main challenging behaviours, compared to Humanitude®: this may be depend on their own philosophy. But caregivers' burden in dementia is not a one-factor problem.

In a context of ever-changing training, computerization of nursing homes can open the range of training solutions by the use of Virtual, playful and interactive role playing. While this method is already used in other industries, the objective of our study is to explore the perception of health and social sector professionals by confronting them to the first "serious game" designed to enhance health and social care for elderly dependent people. An expertment was developed with 117 players of 8 nursing homes belonging to the same group. Each user has played 3 situations during approx. 1 hour.and were asked to complete a self-Administered questionnaire. First results of our quantitative analysis underline in particular the ease of handling, the link between game and daily practice, the interest and the potential of these different elements for learning. These results are generally very encouraging, especially since the sample involves a wide age differencey. The scenarii are particularly valued for their realism and if one of them is reported to be disturbing, it is also the one which is said to be the most interesting. This conjunction is in line with theories of cognitive conflict which highlight the acceptance of self-questioning. The quantitative analysis is enriched by qualitative feedbacks through open-ended questions: they allow not only the explanation of the positive trend, but also the identenfication of the limits. This 'in vivo' experiment, that is close to real-life conditions, helps to consider multiple uses for the "serious game" together with continuing education facilities.

In a context of ever-changing training, computerization of nursing homes can open the range of training solutions by the use of virtual, playful and interactive role playing. While this method is already used in other industries, the objective of our study is to explore the perception of health and social sector professionals by confronting them to the first serious game designed to enhance health and social care for elderly dependent people. An experiment was developed with 117 players of 8 nursing homes belonging to the same group. Each user has played 3 situations during approx. 1 hour.and were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire. First results of our quantitative analysis underline in particular the ease of handling, the link between game and daily practice, the interest and the potential of these different elements for learning. These results are generally very encouraging, especially since the sample covers a large age scale. The scenarii are particularly valued for their realism and if one of them is reported to be disturbing, it is also the one which is said to be the most interesting. This conjunction is in line with theories of cognitive conflict which highlight the acceptance of self-questioning. The quantitative analysis is enriched by qualitative feedbacks through open-ended questions: they allow the explanation of the positive trend as well as the limits’ identification. This ‘in vivo’ experiment close to real-life conditions helps to consider multiple uses for the serious game together with current training arrangements.