JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Exergames have gained growing interest to prevent and treat neurocognitive disorders (NCD). Still, the most effective exergame and training components (i.e. exercise and training variables such as the frequency, intensity, duration, or volume of training and the type and content of specific exergame scenarios) remain to be established for older adults with mild neurocognitive disorder (mNCD). Regarding the design and development of novel exergame-based training concepts it seems of crucial importance to explicitly include the intended users’ perspective by adopting an interactive and participatory design that includes end users throughout different iterative cycles of development.

Objective:

This study aimed to determine the capabilities, treatment preferences and motivators for training of older adults with mNCD, as well as their perspectives of training goals and settings and requirements for exergame and training components.

Methods:

A qualitative study including: (1) expert focus groups; and (2) individual semi-structured in-depth patient interviews, was conducted. Data was transcribed to written format to perform a qualitative content analysis using the QCAmap software.

Results:

Ten experts/healthcare professionals (80 % females) and eight older adults with mNCD (38 % females; mean age: 82.4 ± 6.2 years) were recruited until data saturation was observed.

Conclusions:

The psychosocial consequences of patients’ self-perceived cognitive deterioration might be more burdensome than the cognitive changes themselves. Older adults with mNCD prefer integrative forms of training (such as exergaming) and are primarily motivated by enjoyment or fun exercising and the effectiveness of the training. Putting the synthesized perspectives of training goals and settings and requirements for exergame and training components into context, our considerations point to opportunities for improvement in research and rehabilitation, either by adapting existing exergames to patients with mNCD or by developing novel exergames and exergame-based training concepts specifically tailored to meet patients’ requirements and needs.