New learning in dementia: transfer and spontaneous use of learning in everyday life functioning. Two case studies.

The purpose of these two case studies was to explore the effectiveness of learning methods in dementia when applied in real-life settings and the integration of new skills in daily life functioning. The first participant, DD, learned to look at a calendar with the spaced retrieval method to answer his repeated questions about the current date and calls made to family. Progressive cuing was used by his wife to increase spontaneous use of the calendar, but DD had difficulty integrating the calendar into his routine. The second patient, MD, relearned a leisure activity (listening to music on a cassette radio) and how to participate in a social activity (saying the rosary in a group) with a combination of learning methods. Transfer of these skills in similar contexts was difficult for MD. She never integrated the cassette radio into her daily life routine but she went regularly to the rosary activity, which was cued by an alarm clock. In sum, the learning methods used were very effective with these patients but transfer and spontaneous use were difficult. Since these aspects are essential to rehabilitation, they should be further explored in order to increase the effectiveness of cognitive interventions

Salient beliefs among Canadian adults regarding milk and cheese consumption: a qualitative study based on the theory of planned behaviour

BACKGROUND: In spite of multiple efforts by public health authorities to promote consumption of milk and alternatives in the Canadian adult population, consumption of these healthy foods is still suboptimal. This study aimed to explore salient beliefs underlying the consumption of fluid milk and cheese among adults. METHODS: The qualitative descriptive research design was based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour framework, using 20 focus groups. A total of 161 men and women (19 to 50 years old) from Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto (Canada) were recruited to participate in focus groups. A hybrid approach (deductive and inductive) to qualitative methods of thematic analysis was used during coding of focus group transcripts to draw out participant’s salient beliefs regarding milk and cheese consumption. RESULTS: For both milk and cheese, most groups cited advantages or disadvantages with regards to health effects, nutritional value, taste, socio-affective aspects and practicality. Family and friends, health professionals and advisors, and communications domain (e.g. advertisements, TV programs, well-known personalities) were cited as major influences affecting consumption. Price reduction, product improvements, supply increase and variation, favourable food/drink combinations and access were among the most commonly cited facilitators for milk and cheese consumption. Major barriers included high price, reduced confidence in the product (reasons/contexts that reduce perceived safety of the product), health status, problems linked to supply (varieties/formats which are not available), and habits and cultural values. Gender and level of milk and cheese consumption differences were observed between groups: men referred more often to industry and politics as factors influencing their milk consumption, while women expressed more animal and environmental concerns. Differences were also noted between high and low consumer’s groups in relation to the themes of taste, pleasure and emotions for milk and cheese consumption. Lastly, low consumers expressed more distrust and disgust relating to milk consumption than high consumers. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of beliefs observed are consistent with earlier studies on milk or dairy product consumption. Consumers’ concerns about origins of milk, however, have never been reported. These findings will help optimize approaches for promoting consumption of these foods among different segments of Canadian adults

Developing a One-Stop Platform Transportation Planning Service to Help Older Adults Move Around in Their Community Where, When, and How They Wish: Protocol for a Living Lab Study

Background Multiple mobility-related challenges frequently appear with aging. As a result, many older adults have difficulty getting around, to go, for example, to doctors’ appointments or leisure activities. Although various means of transportation are currently available, older adults do not necessarily use them, partly because they do not know which ones are adapted to their needs and preferences. To foster older adults’ autonomy and freedom in their decision-making about transportation, it is crucial to help them make informed decisions about the means that suit them best. ObjectiveOur aim is to develop Mobilainés, a one-stop platform transportation planning service combining different transport modes and services to help older adults move around in their community where, when, and how they wish. More specifically, we aim to (1) define older adults’ mobility needs and preferences in order to conceptualize a one-stop platform; (2) cocreate a prototype of the one-stop platform; and (3) test the prototype with users in a real-life context. MethodsThis ongoing study uses a “Living Lab” co-design approach. This approach differs from traditional research on aging by facilitating intersectoral knowledge sharing and innovative solutions by and with older adults themselves. A steering committee of 8 stakeholders from the public, scientific, and private sectors, as well as older citizens, will meet quarterly throughout the study. The design comprises three phases, each with several iterative subphases. Phase 1 is exploration: through co-design workshops and literature reviews, members of the intersectoral committee will define older adults’ mobility needs and preferences to support the conceptualization of the one-stop platform. Phase 2 is experimentation: 4 personas will be produced that reflect the different needs and preferences of typical older adult end users of the platform; for development of a prototype, scenarios and mockups (static designs of the web application) will be created through co-design sessions with older adults (N=12) embodying these personas. Phase 3 is evaluation: we will test the usability of the prototype and document changes in mobility, such as the ability to move around satisfactorily and to participate in meaningful activities, by and with older adults (N=30) who use the prototype. The steering committee will identify ways to support the adoption, implementation, and scaling up of Mobilainés to ensure its sustainability. Qualitative and quantitative data will be triangulated according to each subphase objective. Results The first phase began in September 2019. The study is scheduled for completion by mid-2023. Conclusions This innovative transportation planning service will merge existing transportation options in one place. By meeting a wide variety of older adults’ needs and preferences, Mobilainés will help them feel comfortable and safe when moving around, which should increase their participation in meaningful activities and reduce the risk of social isolation. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/3389

Additional file 1: of Salient beliefs among Canadian adults regarding milk and cheese consumption: a qualitative study based on the theory of planned behaviour

Tables S1 to S6. Sample quote, number of focus groups and textual units addressing the theme are indicated for each belief category underlying milk and cheese consumption, according to the three TPB constructs (attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control). (DOCX 43 kb