Spaced Retrieval Effects in Older Adults with Mild Alzheimer's Disease

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop spaced retrieval training as a nursing intervention for patients having an mild alzheimer's disease and to determine the effects of the program on their memory and cognitive function across training sessions. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pre test-post test design was used in this study. Participants were recruited from a local community: 14 patients were allocated into experimental group and 12 patients were allocated into control group. The experimental group was asked to participate in spaced retrieval training over 4 weeks, with seven times a week and 1 hour a session based. The study was conducted from June 20, 2011 to July 17, 2011. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, x2-test and t-test using the SPSS/WIN 19.0 program. Results: After spaced retrieval training, the experimental group showed significant increases in scores for memory (t=12.40, p<.001) and cognitive function (t=7.69, p<.001) in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: Spaced retrieval training was effective in increasing cognitive function and memory of patients having mild alzheimer's disease. Therefore spaced retrieval training could be benefit the mil