Geriatric Inclusive Art: Effects of Painting Sessions on Older In-patients With Cognitive Decline

1. The introduction of the problem Preservation of a stable health status as well as functionality in activities of daily living of older inpatients is a primary objective of care management, in order to avoid deconditioning, long hospital stays and related higher costs. Geriatric Inclusive Art (GIA) painting sessions have been associated with a decrease of in-hospital mortality and length of stay, particularly in patients with cognitive impairment. A cycle of Geriatric Inclusive Art (GIA) painting sessions could be a complementary and have a synergistic action with usual care provided to older inpatients.
2. The purpose of the study The overall objective of the study is to examine the effects of Geriatric Inclusive Art (GIA) painting sessions on neuropsychological and health conditions in older inpatients with cognitive impairment (i.e.; from mild to severe dementia) admitted in medical wards of the Division of Geriatrics at the Jewish General Hospital (Montreal, Quebec).
3. The motivation for this approach Patients with dementia in a hospital setting are highly vulnerable. Prospective studies show higher rate of adverse outcomes including mortality, delirium, and longer hospital stays. There are limited pharmacological treatment options for demented patients with many adverse effects and the possibility of worsening the illness. Thus, non-pharmacological approaches have their place in the treatment of these patients: they should always be prioritized and used in combination with medication if needed. Art therapy has been used as a non-pharmacological approach in different categories of patients.
4. The general description of the study The study is a clinical trial, single-centered (Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec), non-randomized, controlled, superiority trial, open, intent-to-treat, with two parallel arms (intervention and control groups), comparative (comparison of two groups of participants: Intervention group which will have GIA painting sessions and control group will have usual care).

This study has been divided into two consecutive periods (i.e.; feasibility and full periods) in order to increase the possibility to show the effects of GIA painting sessions by measuring the right outcomes with the right tools and no lack of power analysis: The feasibility period will last three-months, which will assess the feasibility of measures of outcomes, estimate the magnitude of changes for the primary outcome of the study and the number of sessions needed for a cycle of GIA painting. The full period will consist of the open non-randomized clinical trial to determine effects of GIA painting sessions. This phase will depend on the findings of the feasibility period.

The population recruited in the study, will be older inpatients admitted in medicals wards of Division of Geriatrics at Jewish General Hospital. Inclusion criteria are the following: age of 65 years and older, cognitive impairment corresponding to a dementia from mild to severe stage, regardless the etiology, admission in medicals ward of Division of Geriatrics at Jewish General hospital, medically stable (i.e.; no acute organ failure) patients.

The population will be separated in two groups: Intervention group: participants who will practice GIA painting session, and Control group: participants who will not practice GIA painting sessions. All participants of this group will be matched on Age (± 3 years), sex, reason for admission and cognitive impairment.