2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Study on Creating an Environment for Preventive Measures Against COVID-19 for older adults with Dementia

Research Project

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Project/Area Number	21K07317
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Section	一般
Review Section	Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
Research Institution	Hiroshima University
Principal Investigator	Ishii Shinya 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(保), 寄附講座教授 (80710996)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	久保達彦広島大学, 医系科学研究科(医), 教授 (00446121) 加澤佳奈岡山大学, 保健学域, 准教授 (10740102) 河村敦子広島大学, 医系科学研究科(保), 寄附講座講師 (90509530) 大田秀隆秋田大学, 高齢者医療先端研究センター, 教授 (20431869) 林幹雄関西医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (30897749) 孫大輔鳥取大学, 医学部, 准教授 (40637039)
Project Period (FY)	2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Keywords	新型コロナウイルス感染症 / 認知症 / 介護施設 / 要介護度
Outline of Final Research Achievements	In this study, we conducted questionnaire surveys and interviews to clarify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults with dementia and their families. The questionnaire surveys were conducted nationwide on medical and long term care facilities three times over a span of three years, and the results were evaluated longitudinally. It was revealed that changes in daily life due to the implementation of infection prevention measures significantly affected the condition of people with dementia, as opportunities for social interaction and exercise decreased. The interview survey was conducted on families of people with dementia, care managers, and staff at medical and long term care facilities. Although discrepancies were observed in anxiety about infection and perceptions of the situation, there was also a reaffirmation of trust in care workers and family members.
Free Research Field	老年病学
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	本研究によって、新型コロナウイルス感染症流行下では認知症の人やその家族が感染の有無にかかわらず大きな影響を受けたこと、特に外出自粛や施設における面会制限などの感染予防の取組によって認知症症状の悪化や身体機能の低下等の悪影響を受けていたこと、感染長期化によってこうした悪影響がより広範にみられることなどが明らかとなった。この成果は感染対策をどのように緩和するかを検討する際の基礎データとして重要である。