The development of the AMCQ was exploratory in nature and has the potential to be a reliable and valid tool for measuring motor competence in Australian adolescents.
Background
Dementia is a neurological condition that affects the cognitive and functional ability of the brain and is the leading cause of disability among those aged 65 years and above. More effective ways to manage dementia symptoms are needed because current treatment options (antidepressants and antipsychotics) can be ineffective and are associated with substantial side effects, including increased rate of mortality. Cannabinoid-based medicine (CBM) has shown an ability to inhibit some symptoms associated with dementia, and the adverse effects are often minimal; yet, little research has explored the use of CBM among this population.
Aim
To monitor the safety of a purified dose of CBM oil (3:2 delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol:cannabidiol) on behaviour symptoms, quality of life and discomfort caused by pain.
Methods/design
We will carry out an 18-week, randomised, double-blind crossover trial that consists of a 2-week eligibility period, two 6-week treatment cycles, and two 2-week washout periods (between both cycles and after the second treatment cycle). We aim to recruit 50 participants with dementia who are living in residential aged-care facilities. The participants will be randomised into two groups and will receive a dose of either CBM oil or placebo for the first treatment cycle and the opposite medication for the second. Data will be collected using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease questionnaire, and the Abbey Pain Scale on seven occasions. These will be completed by the participants, aged-care staff, and nominated next of kin or family members. The participants’ heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored weekly, and their body composition and weight will be monitored fortnightly by a research nurse, to assess individual dose response and frailty. In addition, pre- and post-surveys will be administered to aged-care staff and family members to understand their perceptions of CBM and to inform proposed focus groups consisting of the aged-care staff and next of kin.
Discussion
The study design has been informed by medical professionals and key stakeholders, including those working in the residential aged-care industry to ensure patient safety, collection of non-invasive measures, and methodological rigor and study feasibility.
Trial registration
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12619000474156. Registered on 21 March 2019
Introduction: Adolescents' motor competence influences their physical, social and emotional development. Parent-reported assessments may not be truly representative of their adolescent's motor difficulties. This study examined the congruency between parent-and self-reported motor competence in 133 parent-adolescent dyads. Method: The adolescent-reported Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ; 83) and the parent-reported Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ-07; 57) cut scores classified 133 (M age ¼ 14.5 years) adolescents into high and low motor competence. Parents also completed the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham IV (SNAP-IV) for descriptive purposes. Findings: A moderate correlation (r ¼ 0.56, P < 0.001) was found between the AMCQ and the DCDQ-07 scores. Overall, 42 low motor competence cases were identified by both measures (AMCQ and DCDQ-07). Parents identified more boys (11) than girls (9) with low motor competence, whereas more female adolescents (22) self-reported low motor competence than boys (18). A high proportion agreement (0.82) was seen, which was principally due to the 91 (68.4% of sample) high motor competence case agreements. Conclusion: Parents identified fewer motor difficulties in their adolescent, especially for girls. Self-report motor assessments may be more realistic for adolescents as they are aware of their own capabilities. Such measures are also more likely to identify previously undiagnosed adolescents with low motor competence.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.