Are Analogue or Digital Clocks Friendlier for People Living with Dementia?

Background: In ageing population, it is desirable to reduce the impact of cognitive decline on daily life. While various types of dementia-friendly environments have been proposed, the question still remains regarding whether analogue or digital clocks are friendlier for people with dementia. Method...

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Main Authors: Akihiro Koreki, Keisuke Kusudo, Hisaomi Suzuki, Shoko Nozaki, Mitsumoto Onaya, Alison Bowes, Mitsuhiro Sado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2021-09-01
Series:Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/518350
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author Akihiro Koreki
Keisuke Kusudo
Hisaomi Suzuki
Shoko Nozaki
Mitsumoto Onaya
Alison Bowes
Mitsuhiro Sado
author_facet Akihiro Koreki
Keisuke Kusudo
Hisaomi Suzuki
Shoko Nozaki
Mitsumoto Onaya
Alison Bowes
Mitsuhiro Sado
author_sort Akihiro Koreki
collection DOAJ
description Background: In ageing population, it is desirable to reduce the impact of cognitive decline on daily life. While various types of dementia-friendly environments have been proposed, the question still remains regarding whether analogue or digital clocks are friendlier for people with dementia. Methods: In clinical practice, we normally use our original clock reading test (10 analogue and 10 digital clocks) to assess patients’ ability to read a clock. In the present study, a retrospective medical record survey was conducted. Fifty-five participants who had done the test were identified. The result of the test was compared between analogue and digital clocks. Additionally, to assess specific ability to read analogue clocks, an “analogue-digital gap” was defined as the difference between patients’ performance for analogue and digital clocks. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to detect significant factors associated with reading ability specific to analogue clocks. Results: The analogue clock proved less readable than the digital clock, even after adjusting for MMSE total score (p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis revealed reading ability of the analogue clock was significantly associated with MMSE calculation and clock drawing test (p = 0.009 and 0.040, respectively). Conclusions: In the present study, the digital clock was friendlier than the analogue clock for patients with dementia. Compared to the digital clock, reading analogue clocks might require more widespread cognition, such as working memory and visuospatial processing. While our finding was a general tendency, and individual assessment is necessary, it might help the development of personalized environmental adjustments.
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spelling doaj.art-85c8353de2054e58a3fae1b77a770f172022-12-21T20:02:37ZengKarger PublishersDementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra1664-54642021-09-0111320721210.1159/000518350518350Are Analogue or Digital Clocks Friendlier for People Living with Dementia?Akihiro Koreki0Keisuke Kusudo1Hisaomi Suzuki2Shoko Nozaki3Mitsumoto Onaya4Alison Bowes5Mitsuhiro Sado6Department of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization Shimofusa Psychiatric Medical Center, Chiba, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization Shimofusa Psychiatric Medical Center, Chiba, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization Shimofusa Psychiatric Medical Center, Chiba, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization Shimofusa Psychiatric Medical Center, Chiba, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization Shimofusa Psychiatric Medical Center, Chiba, JapanFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United KingdomDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, JapanBackground: In ageing population, it is desirable to reduce the impact of cognitive decline on daily life. While various types of dementia-friendly environments have been proposed, the question still remains regarding whether analogue or digital clocks are friendlier for people with dementia. Methods: In clinical practice, we normally use our original clock reading test (10 analogue and 10 digital clocks) to assess patients’ ability to read a clock. In the present study, a retrospective medical record survey was conducted. Fifty-five participants who had done the test were identified. The result of the test was compared between analogue and digital clocks. Additionally, to assess specific ability to read analogue clocks, an “analogue-digital gap” was defined as the difference between patients’ performance for analogue and digital clocks. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to detect significant factors associated with reading ability specific to analogue clocks. Results: The analogue clock proved less readable than the digital clock, even after adjusting for MMSE total score (p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis revealed reading ability of the analogue clock was significantly associated with MMSE calculation and clock drawing test (p = 0.009 and 0.040, respectively). Conclusions: In the present study, the digital clock was friendlier than the analogue clock for patients with dementia. Compared to the digital clock, reading analogue clocks might require more widespread cognition, such as working memory and visuospatial processing. While our finding was a general tendency, and individual assessment is necessary, it might help the development of personalized environmental adjustments.https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/518350clockdementiadeliriumenvironmentdesignprevention
spellingShingle Akihiro Koreki
Keisuke Kusudo
Hisaomi Suzuki
Shoko Nozaki
Mitsumoto Onaya
Alison Bowes
Mitsuhiro Sado
Are Analogue or Digital Clocks Friendlier for People Living with Dementia?
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra
clock
dementia
delirium
environment
design
prevention
title Are Analogue or Digital Clocks Friendlier for People Living with Dementia?
title_full Are Analogue or Digital Clocks Friendlier for People Living with Dementia?
title_fullStr Are Analogue or Digital Clocks Friendlier for People Living with Dementia?
title_full_unstemmed Are Analogue or Digital Clocks Friendlier for People Living with Dementia?
title_short Are Analogue or Digital Clocks Friendlier for People Living with Dementia?
title_sort are analogue or digital clocks friendlier for people living with dementia
topic clock
dementia
delirium
environment
design
prevention
url https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/518350
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