Determination of the Effect of Puzzle Use in Elderly Patients

Determination of the Effect of Puzzle Use on Cognitive Functions, Surgical Recovery and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Surgery

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of the use of a simple, reliable and cost-effective puzzle on post-operative cognitive function changes, postoperative recovery, and quality of life using questionnaires and face-to-face interview techniques.

Aging is a process involving biological, physiological and psychological changes. With aging, deterioration in brain, behavior and cognitive functions is observed. In this process, physical and cognitive deficiencies and slow thinking can be seen. The independence of elderly individuals in meeting their self-care decreases. Over time, individuals become unable to meet their needs and this reduces the quality of life of individuals. With the developing technology, perioperative care techniques began to develop and the number of surgical procedures applied to elderly patients began to increase.One of the most important goals in the field of health today and in the future will be to increase the quality of life of individuals. It is becoming increasingly important to determine the effective factors to protect cognitive functions in elderly individuals.After surgical procedures, patients may experience memory loss and decrease in concentration. Symptoms indicating a decrease in cognitive functions were named as postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Compared to other individuals undergoing surgery, the rate of cognitive changes in the early period is higher in the elderly.Especially, elderly patients who underwent orthopedic surgery are thought to be a risky patient group for postoperative cognitive impairment.Solving jigsaw puzzles is a low-cost, motivating, visuospatial cognitive-challenging activity.This study will be conducted in order to determine the effect of this strain on the cognitive functions of the individual and to investigate the effect of focusing on completing the puzzle on post-operative recovery and quality of life, as it will focus the individual's perception on a certain point.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 65 years and older,
• Having been hospitalized in the orthopedic service for at least three days after the operation,
• Having undergone orthopedic surgery,
• No hearing or vision problems,
• Able to communicate,
• No cognitive or psychiatric problems,
• At least primary school graduate,
• Patients who agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Using jigsaw puzzles regularly,
• Using drugs that affect memory and thinking

These drugs are:

1. Sedative and Hypnotic Drugs

   • Benzodiazepines
   • Barbiturates
   • Non-barbiturate
   • Other Sedative and Hypnotics (zolpidem, buspirone, hydroxyzine)

2. Anticonvulsant Drugs

3. Drugs Used in Parkinson's Treatment

4. Drugs Used in the Treatment of Psychiatric Diseases

5. Drugs with Narcotic Analgesic Effects

6. Anesthetic Drugs

7. Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs - Patients with cerebrovascular accident or head injury