None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This project examines the feasibility and effects of a 10-week online music therapy program involving songwriting for people with dementia and their family care partners. The project aims to address the following aims: To, 1) examine the feasibility and acceptability of online music therapy for people with dementia and their family care partners; 2) examine the sensitivity of outcomes measuring depression and quality of life with people with dementia and their family care partners who have participated in online music therapy; 3) explore how people with dementia and their family care partners experience an online music therapy program.
Interventions
This trial investigates the effects and experience of an online therapeutic songwriting intervention for people with dementia and their family care partners. The online therapeutic songwriting process involves the creation of lyrics and music to address psychosocial, emotional, cognitive and communication needs within a supportive therapeutic relationship. The intervention may include other support activities and music therapy processes, such as warm-up activities, familiar song-singing, music l
This trial investigates the effects and experience of an online therapeutic songwriting intervention for people with dementia and their family care partners. The online therapeutic songwriting process involves the creation of lyrics and music to address psychosocial, emotional, cognitive and communication needs within a supportive therapeutic relationship. The intervention may include other support activities and music therapy processes, such as warm-up activities, familiar song-singing, music listening, reminiscence, discussion, and recording the song. Materials will include musical instruments and recording equipment (e.g. microphone, laptop). The 10-week online music therapy songwriting intervention proposed for this project will occur in 2 phases. In phase 1, each dyad will meet with a RMT for 4 online weekly 1-hour music therapy songwriting sessions. These initial sessions will aim to establish rapport, gain an understanding of the dyad’s personal and music history, observe how they interact via an online platform, support them to overcome any technical difficulties, and familiarise them with the songwriting process. These more individualised sessions will help dyads to gain confidence with music therapy songwriting methods before moving to the online group context. In phase 2, groups of 3-4 dyads will be formed. Groups will be homogeneous where possible, with dyads who are in the same relationship types (for example, spousal/partner or other family). Each group will receive 6 weekly 1-hour online group music therapy songwriting sessions. The therapeutic songwriting intervention will be informed by a person-centred, experience-based model. In keeping with this model, songwriting facilitated by a registered music therapist will allow for the intervention to be personalised to the needs of individuals and the groups of individuals. The music therapist will follow a pre-developed protocol and session guidelines. The music therapist will monitor for adherence by checking participant attendance at each scheduled session.
Sponsors
University of Melbourne
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: there will be no restrictions based on dementia diagnosis or severity of symptoms, relationship type, or living arrangements. Eligible dyads will: be aged 18 years or older, have access to video conferencing technology, have functional hearing with or without aids, and have English communication skills (current or previous if nonverbal). Participants with dementia may be living in the family home with their family care partner, or separately either because they live in a care home or separate residence. Family care partners, may be a spouse/partner, adult child, other relative, or friend of the person with dementia.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria includes participants who are: 1) non-English speaking; and 2) have non-functional hearing. Additionally, people with dementia will be excluded if they do not have a diagnosis of probable/possible dementia consistent with DSM-V or NIA/AA guidelines.
Outcome results
None listed