Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
BMC Geriatr. 2024 Sep 28;24(1):795. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05387-2.
Social isolation and feelings of loneliness are very prevalent in people with neurodegenerative diseases and are associated with a lower quality of life and other negative outcomes. These problems were increased during the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in initiatives to address social isolation. Given the potential benefits of nature-based and animal-assisted intervention strategies (NATAIS), it is crucial to further investigate if and how these strategies might minimize negative effects of social isolation and feelings of loneliness in this population. Therefore, the aim of this project was to develop a research agenda for NATAIS in people with neurodegenerative diseases, especially during challenging times, such as pandemics.
This article outlines the process and results of a group concept mapping procedure aimed at developing a research agenda based on a logic model. In total, 19 work group members participated through a combination of in-person and online group meetings. Additionally, face-to-face group sessions were held at two international scientific conferences, during which feedback was solicited from 12 experts in the field of NATAIS and psychogeriatrics.
The group concept mapping procedure resulted in 14 clusters describing various future research topics, which were further refined and detailed during group discussions. The remaining eleven clusters, encompassing important research themes within the field of NATAIS, were organized into a logic model and summarized into the research agenda. The overarching cluster 'ethical issues, possible risk factors, and their solutions' was considered the most relevant during times of increased social isolation, such as during a pandemic, along with the necessity for more accessible NATAIS.
This project resulted in a research agenda, directing future research and fostering collaboration between practitioners and researchers in the field of NATAIS. Such an enhanced partnership between science and practice has the potential to significantly contribute to the well-being of people with neurodegenerative diseases, in their daily lives and also during pandemics.
社交孤立和孤独感在神经退行性疾病患者中非常普遍，与生活质量下降和其他负面后果有关。这些问题在 COVID-19 大流行期间加剧，导致人们采取措施解决社交孤立问题。鉴于基于自然和动物辅助干预策略（NATAIS）的潜在益处，有必要进一步研究这些策略是否以及如何最大限度地减少这一人群的社交孤立和孤独感的负面影响。因此，本项目的目的是制定针对神经退行性疾病患者的 NATAIS 研究议程，特别是在大流行等具有挑战性的时期。
本文概述了基于逻辑模型制定研究议程的小组概念映射程序的过程和结果。共有 19 名工作组成员通过面对面和在线小组会议相结合的方式参与其中。此外，还在两次国际科学会议上举行了面对面小组会议，在此期间，向 NATAIS 和心理老年学领域的 12 名专家征求了反馈意见。
小组概念映射程序产生了 14 个聚类，描述了各种未来的研究课题，这些课题在小组讨论中进一步细化和详细阐述。其余的 11 个聚类，包含了 NATAIS 领域内的重要研究主题，被组织到一个逻辑模型中，并总结为研究议程。“伦理问题、可能的风险因素及其解决方案”这一涵盖范围最广的聚类被认为是在社交隔离加剧时期（例如在大流行期间）最相关的，同时也需要更易于获得的 NATAIS。
本项目制定了一个研究议程，指导未来的研究，并促进 NATAIS 领域的从业者和研究人员之间的合作。这种科学与实践之间的增强伙伴关系有可能显著促进神经退行性疾病患者的福祉，无论是在日常生活中还是在大流行期间。
