Meta-analysis about cognitive intervention effect applied to dementia patients

OBJECTIVE: The study tries to explore what effects multiple cognitive intervention, computer-based intervention, and memory training program had on dementia patients through meta-analysis. METHOD: Data was collected using an overseas search engine and 13 pieces of research published from January 2001 to April 2015 were selected. On papers that fit the selection criteria qualitative evaluation was conducted using Jadad evaluation and using pre-post average, standard deviation, and sample size of cognitive function, meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The 13 studies selected included 6 multiple interventions, 4 computer-based interventions, and 3 memory training programs. In the Jadad evaluation all had 3 points or higher and there were 474 research participants and in the result of effect size analysis memory training intervention was found to be 'large effect size', computer-based intervention 'medium effect size', and multiple cognitive intervention 'small effect size'. All three intervention methods were all statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was found that the effect on dementia patients was in the order of memory training intervention, computer-based intervention, and multiple cognitive intervention. Clinically, this can be objective basis for treatment method for cognitive intervention of dementia patients.