Feasibility and Interest of the 3D Ephemeris for Temporal Orientation in Alzheimer's: Pilot Study

Context and Purpose In geriatric care, especially for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, maintaining orientation in time (temporal orientation) is a critical aspect of cognitive function. Occupational therapists, using validated tools, help assess a patient's abilities and performance to identify deficiencies and propose rehabilitation programs tailored to the individual. Temporal orientation disorders, in which individuals struggle with identifying or understanding time (such as the day of the week, month, or year), are common in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Research shows that individuals who make errors in temporal orientation-such as misidentifying the day, date, or month-are at a higher risk for developing dementia. Furthermore, temporal orientation issues often precede spatial orientation problems in Alzheimer's patients, meaning they can serve as early indicators of cognitive decline.

In hospital settings, these issues are often worsened due to the loss of personal environmental cues, which can leave patients feeling disoriented and confused. As such, maintaining temporal orientation during hospitalization is essential to reduce distress and support cognitive function. However, despite the clear importance of addressing temporal orientation in dementia care, there is currently no effective tool specifically designed to rehabilitate these deficits. This gap in care has prompted the development of a new tool, the Ephéméride 3D, a prototype external aid aimed at improving temporal orientation in individuals with mild to moderate dementia.

Main Objective The primary goal of this study is to evaluate, in real-life hospital conditions, the effectiveness of the Ephéméride 3D tool in improving temporal orientation rehabilitation for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. Specifically, the study focuses on patients in the mild to moderate stages of the disease, where early intervention could be most beneficial.

Secondary Objectives

In addition to evaluating the tool's effectiveness, the study includes several secondary objectives:

Feasibility of Routine Establishment: The study will assess the practicality of integrating the Ephéméride 3D tool into the daily routine of hospitalized patients. This includes evaluating whether the tool can be consistently used throughout a patient's hospitalization period.

Feedback Collection: Patients, their families, and healthcare professionals will provide feedback on the usefulness, practicality, and aesthetic appeal of the Ephéméride 3D tool. This feedback will be critical for determining whether the tool meets the needs of the patients it is designed to assist.

Desire for Continued Use: The study will also investigate whether patients would be willing to continue using the tool once they are discharged from the hospital and return home. This will help gauge the long-term potential of the tool for continuous cognitive support.

Evaluation of Positive Feedback: The study will track the number of Ephémérides deemed appropriate for wider use, based on positive feedback from patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. This feedback will be used to decide whether the product should be scaled for broader development and distribution. A key metric for this evaluation will be derived from the results of questionnaires filled out by patients, their caregivers, and healthcare providers.

Methodology This study is a monocentric pilot observational study, meaning it will be conducted at a single site and will involve direct observations of patients over a defined period. The data collection process will follow a series of structured steps, including assessments of the patients' temporal knowledge at various points during the study.

Study Timeline and Procedures:

Day 5 (D5): The patient's physician will conduct an initial Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to assess cognitive function and prescribe temporal orientation rehabilitation as needed.

Day 6 (D6): Consent will be obtained from both the patient and their caregiver to participate in the study.

Days 6 to 10 (D6 to D10): The patient's knowledge of time (season, year, month, day, and day of the week) will be assessed daily without the Ephéméride 3D tool, to establish a baseline for comparison.

Days 11 to 15 (D11 to D15): The patient's temporal knowledge will be assessed daily with the Ephéméride 3D tool. This period will allow the researchers to observe whether the tool has any positive impact on the patient's ability to maintain temporal orientation.

Day 16 (D16): The patient's physician will conduct an interim MMSE to measure any changes in cognitive function from the baseline.

Days 17 to 21 (D17 to D21): A second round of daily assessments will take place without the Ephéméride 3D tool to observe any reversion in the temporal orientation without external support.

Days 22 to 26 (D22 to D26): Another round of daily assessments with the Ephéméride 3D tool will take place to examine the sustained impact of the tool on temporal orientation.

Day 27 (D27): A final MMSE will be conducted to evaluate any long-term changes in cognitive function resulting from the intervention.

Days 28 to 30 (D28 to D30): Questionnaires will be completed by the patient, their caregiver, and healthcare professionals (including the study referent in the hospital) to gather their opinions on the usefulness and effectiveness of the tool.

Study Population The study will include 20 patients over the course of 1 year and 30 days, providing sufficient data for statistical analysis.

Data Analysis The analysis will involve descriptive statistics to document patient characteristics at admission and track changes over time. Statistical tests such as paired T-tests and Chi-square tests will be used to identify significant changes in temporal orientation across assessment periods. Additionally, longitudinal analyses using mixed-effects linear regression models will assess trends over time, accounting for correlations between repeated measures and evaluating the impact of the Ephéméride 3D tool on temporal orientation.

Expected Outcomes and Conclusion This observational study aims to determine whether the Ephéméride 3D tool can effectively support temporal orientation rehabilitation in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The study will primarily focus on the feasibility of using the tool in a hospital setting and the effectiveness of improving temporal orientation. If the tool proves successful, it could provide a practical solution for addressing temporal orientation deficits, thereby improving the overall quality of life for individuals with cognitive impairments.

The feedback gathered from patients, families, and healthcare providers will be essential in refining the tool and determining whether it is suitable for widespread use. Ultimately, the study will lay the foundation for future development and potential scaling of the Ephéméride 3D tool, with the hope of improving cognitive rehabilitation practices for individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.