A Semantic-Based Cognitive Training Programme on Everyday Activities: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study among Cognitively Healthy Older Adults

Table 3

Summary of the participants’ perspective on the challenges when completing E-MinD Life and suggestions for future iterations to improve the programme.

Programme challenges and suggestions for future iterations		Participants’ comments
Design	Reducing accidental/“working” errors	After explanation it was good but if any “working” problems occurred I found that challenging. (P7); … while I was on holiday, I messed up by opening a therapist led part of the program. (participant no. 4); … if you press the wrong button, you cannot remove the dot, so might show an incorrect error when all you did was accidently pressed the wrong line button. (P2)
	Orientation to session	I found it took me a short time at each lesson to concentrate on what I was to do, to think differently. It was stressful for me as I like to get things right. (P3)
	Task relevancy	Depend on the level of education of the people using “word” based activities. (P4); Relevancy! – Depends on the person. (P4)
	Repetition	A good program, not sure why it was so repetitive with 9 sections then 2 or 3 repeats in each section. (P2); The tedious repetition of the exercises. (P8)
	Use of iPad	The use of iPad is good if people really understand its use and do not feel too threatened by it. I appreciated learning how to use it – thanks to the people who helped! (P7); …there could be difficulties for some people using an iPad if the people aren’t used to them. Could be very confusing and frustrating for folk with dementia. (P4)
	Challenge level	It might help people with minimal memory loss however for people with acute memory loss, this program would be difficult. (P4); I wonder if some of the long-detailed sentences may be too much for some people to learn. I found I skimmed and only remembered the first words of the sentence. (P7)
Implementation	Balancing therapist-led with self-led iPad sessions	Good to get away from a screen and interact with therapist on task… Not all people our age have any experience on these (iPads). In these cases, the use of one-on-one program would be more suitable. (P2); I did better on my own because I did not feel stressed that I might be holding anyone up. (P3); It was pleasant to have supervising (therapists/students) with cheerful attitudes. (P6)
	Programme length	I felt 9 weeks was too long, doing the same tasks 9 times on each subject was too repetitive, not sure what that proves. (P2); Keeping a day a week free for 9 weeks, I did not realise I had such a busy life. (P3)