@article{3183528, title = "Individualised sensory intervention to improve quality of life in people with dementia and their companions (SENSE-Cog trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial", author = "Regan, Jemma and Frison, Eric and Collin, Fideline and Dawes, Piers and and Hann, Mark and Himmelsbach, Ines and Hooper, Emma and Reeves, David and and Simkin, Zoe and Thodi, Chryssoula and Yang, Fan and Leroi, Iracema and and Abrams, Harvey and Chaghil-Boissiere, Nathalie and Charalambous, Pavlina and and Constantinidou, Fofi and Gilbert, Camille and Helmer, Catherine and and Jury, Francine and Kontogianni, Evangelia and Lawlor, Brian and Matard, and Charly and Montecelo, Susana and Marie, Sarah and Politis, Antonios and and Postea, Otilia and Renaud, David and Termote, Monique and Wolski, Lucas and and SENSE-Cog Trial Dev Team", journal = "Trials", year = "2019", volume = "20", publisher = "BMC", issn = "1745-6215", doi = "10.1186/s13063-018-2973-0", keywords = "Dementia; Hearing; Vision; Sensory intervention; Quality of life; Europe; Psychosocial intervention", abstract = "BackgroundHearing and vision impairments are highly prevalent in people with dementia and may have a negative impact on quality of life and other dementia-related outcomes. Intervening to optimise sensory impairment and support sensory function may be a means of improving dementia-related outcomes. The SENSE-Cog trial will test whether a home-based multi-part sensory intervention is effective in improving quality of life and other key outcomes in people with dementia and hearing or vision problems (or both) and their companions.MethodsThis is anEuropean, multi-centre, observer-blind, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. Three hundred fifty four people with dementia and hearing or vision impairment (or both) and their companions will be randomly assigned to receive either care as usual or a multi-component sensory intervention including assessment and correction of hearing or vision impairments (or both), home-based (maximum 10 visits over 18weeks), therapist-delivered sensory support (that is, adherence to devices; improving the sensory environment (that is, lighting), communication training, and sign-posting to other support agencies). Change from baseline to intervention end (18weeks) and post-intervention (36weeks) will be compared between the two arms in the following outcomes: quality of life (primary endpoint), sensory and cognitive functional ability, relationships, mental well-being, health resource utilisation and cost-effectiveness.DiscussionThis is one of two articles outlining the SENSE-Cog trial. Here, we describe the protocol for the effectiveness of the SENSE-Cog intervention. A parallel and complementary process evaluation will be described elsewhere. If the SENSE-Cog trial demonstrates that the sensory intervention improves outcomes in dementia, we will make a toolkit of training materials, resources and information available to health and social care providers to implement the intervention in routine practice. This will be a significant contribution to the therapeutic management of people with dementia and sensory impairment.Trial registrationISRCTN (Trial ID: ISRCTN17056211) on 19 February 2018." }