| Abstrakt: |
Background: Computerized training has been used to improve cognitive functioning and has been shown to be effective in a wide range of populations. However, its use in elders can be complicated due to many factors including schooling, motivation, perception of difficulty and unfamiliarity with the technology. For the multidomain dementia prevention program LatAm‐FINGERS, the brainHQ software is being used to perform the cognitive training. The aim of this work is to show the perception of participants about this program. Method: Twenty‐five urban‐Mexican elders cognitively healthy but with risk factors for dementia, are receiving the cognitive training through brainHQ. They indicated in a 5‐point Likert scale (1 = low, 5 = high) how enthusiastic and fearful they felt to begin the training and how difficult it has been. They also reported if they used a smartphone, a computer or a tablet before and how comfortable they felt using it. Results: Participants were between 60‐77 years old, with an average age of 70.9 ± 4.7 years old and an average schooling of 9.33 ± 3.5 years, 56% were females. Most of the sample (92%) uses smart technology, mainly smartphones, but only 8% feels very comfortable using it, 55% reports regular comfort and 37% feels not comfortable at all. When asked about brainHQ training, over half of the sample (56%) reported high enthusiasm, 68% reported little fear and more than half reported some degree of difficulty (see figure 1). No significant differences between men and women were found. Using Spearman's test, a significant negative correlation between schooling and perceived difficulty was found (rho = ‐.68, p =.03), but not between schooling and enthusiasm or fear. Conclusion: In general, the participants have a good attitude towards the use of brainHQ, although they reported not feeling very comfortable with the use of intelligent technologies, they were enthusiastic about starting the training, and most of them were not afraid. However, the perceived difficulty could hinder training, especially in those with less schooling, therefore, it is important to develop strategies that encourage them to continue with the program to obtain the benefits of computerized training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
