Individual music therapy for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms for people with dementia and their carers: a cluster randomised controlled feasibility study
Hsu MH, Flowerdew R, Parker M, Fachner J, Odell-Miller H
BMC geriatrics · 81 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- University or hospital
- Anglia Ruskin University
Based on 1 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2015-07-16 · BMC Geriatr · vol. 15 · issue 1 · p. 84
- Publisher
- BioMed Central
- Cited
- 155 citations · more than 99% of similar papers · 12.3× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 79 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Music Therapy and Health · Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research · Intensive Care Unit Cognitive Disorders
- Keywords
- Medicine, Dementia, Music therapy, Rehabilitation, Physical therapy, Cluster (spacecraft), Randomized controlled trial, Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Psychiatry, Gerontology, Disease
- MeSH
- humans, dementia, treatment outcome, music therapy, geriatric assessment, cluster analysis, feasibility studies, program evaluation, behavioral symptoms, neuropsychology, adult, aged, aged, 80 and over, middle aged, caregivers, assisted living facilities, female, male
5 authors
From GB
- Ming‐Hung Hsu · correspondingAnglia Ruskin University
- Rosamund Flowerdew
- Michael J. ParkerAnglia Ruskin University
- Jörg FachnerAnglia Ruskin University
- Helen Odell‐MillerAnglia Ruskin University
Abstract
Background
Previous research highlights the importance of staff involvement in psychosocial interventions targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. Music therapy has shown potential effects, but it is not clear how this intervention can be programmed to involve care staff within the delivery of patients' care. This study reports initial feasibility and outcomes from a five month music therapy programme including weekly individual active music therapy for people with dementia and weekly post-therapy video presentations for their carers in care homes.
Methods
17 care home residents and 10 care staff were randomised to the music therapy intervention group or standard care control group. The cluster randomised, controlled trial included baseline, 3-month, 5-month and post-intervention 7-month measures of residents' symptoms and well-being. Carer-resident interactions were also assessed. Feasibility was based on carers' feedback through semi-structured interviews, programme evaluations and track records of the study.
Results
The music therapy programme appeared to be a practicable and acceptable intervention for care home residents and staff in managing dementia symptoms. Recruitment and retention data indicated feasibility but also challenges. Preliminary outcomes indicated differences in symptoms (13.42, 95 % CI: [4.78 to 22.07; p = 0.006]) and in levels of wellbeing (-0.74, 95 % CI: [-1.15 to -0.33; p = 0.003]) between the two groups, indicating that residents receiving music therapy improved. Staff in the intervention group reported enhanced caregiving techniques as a result of the programme.
Conclusion
The data supports the value of developing a music therapy programme involving weekly active individual music therapy sessions and music therapist-carer communication. The intervention is feasible with modifications in a more rigorous evaluation of a larger sample size.
Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT01744600.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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