The Hawthorne Effect in Dementia Trials
Author Information
Author(s): Rob McCarney, James Warner, Steve Iliffe, Robbert van Haselen, Mark Griffin, Peter Fisher
Primary Institution: Imperial College London
Hypothesis
Does intensive follow-up in a placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba improve cognitive functioning and quality of life compared to minimal follow-up?
Conclusion
More intensive follow-up resulted in better cognitive outcomes compared to minimal follow-up in participants with mild-moderate dementia.
Supporting Evidence
- Intensive follow-up improved cognitive functioning as measured by the ADAS-Cog.
- Quality of life ratings were worse in the intensive follow-up group.
- The study was conducted in a community setting with participants aged 55 and over.
- Recruitment was primarily through general practices.
- Participants were randomly assigned to follow-up groups to assess the Hawthorne Effect.
Takeaway
This study looked at how different types of follow-up affect people in a dementia trial, finding that more check-ins helped with thinking skills.
Methodology
Participants were randomly assigned to either intensive or minimal follow-up in a trial assessing Ginkgo biloba for dementia.
Potential Biases
Participants and researchers were not blinded to the follow-up group, which could introduce bias.
Limitations
The study focused on a specific group of dementia patients, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were mainly elderly individuals with mild-moderate dementia, with a mean age of approximately 79.5 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.037
Confidence Interval
95%CI -3.914, -0.121
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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