Community Versus Hospital Effects of an Online Group Social Work Intervention on Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment in China
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026
Community Versus Hospital Effects of an Online Group Social Work Intervention on Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment in China
The effectiveness of online group social work interventions for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) across community and hospital settings remains unclear.
Method
A quasi-experimental design with 64 adults (aged ≥65 years) from a community institution and a hospital. Participants were allocated to groups based on care setting. Cognitive function was assessed using the AD8 before and after an 8-week online group intervention. Quantitative analyses included paired and nonparametric tests, while qualitative interviews explored participant experiences.
Results
Hospital-based participants (n = 27) had higher baseline impairment than community counterparts (n = 27; final sample N = 54). Significant cognitive improvement was observed in the community group, particularly among fully adherent participants, while no significant improvement was found in the hospital group.
Conclusion
Online group social work interventions may improve cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults with MCI, but their effectiveness is limited in hospital-based settings with more advanced impairment.
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