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We think you can dance! A pilot randomised controlled trial of dance for nursing home residents with moderate to severe dementia

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the feasibility of a dance program for people with moderate to severe dementia living in nursing homeswith regards to recruitment and retention, assessment tools, intervention safety, attendance and engagement.

Design

Pilot randomised controlled trial with assessments at weeks 0, 16 and 32.

Setting

A nursing home in Sydney, Australia.

Interventions: Experienced dance teachers conducted dance groups (intervention) or music appreciation and socialisation groups (control) for 45 min, three times a week for 16 weeks.

Main outcome measures

Descriptive statistics for recruitment and retention, adverse events and attendance and engagement.

Results

Recruitment was smooth, attrition was17% over 32 weeks. Engagement during the sessions was high, and no serious falls or behavioural incidents occurred. Average attendance was poorer than anticipated for dance groups (67%) in comparison to music groups (89%). A ceiling effect on the Severe Impairment Battery and the logistical challenges of the Clinical Global Impression of Change meant they may not be optimal tools.

Conclusions

It is feasible to conduct a study of group dance for people with moderate to severe dementia in residential care. Choice of attention control condition should be reconsidered.

Section snippets

Design

Single site randomised controlled pilot trial

Ethics

Approval was obtained from the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee (HC13374).

Recruitment

Information and consent forms were distributed to staff, residents and family. Residents provided written informed consent when able (or verbal assent if unable) and written consent was obtained from families and staff.

Consented residents were screened for the following inclusion criteria: ≥65 years, dementia diagnosis, MMSE between 10 and 23, able

Results

1) Recruitment and retention

We recruited our target of 18 participants without difficulty. We were unable to determine how many residents were invited to participate. We re-assessed 15 (83%) at 16 weeks (one died, one was transferred, one refused), the same 15 were available for reassessment at 32 weeks.

2) Suitability of measures

There was a possible ceiling effect on the SIB, with baseline scores ranging from 75 to 94 out of a possible 100 points (mean = 85.3, SD 6.2), and the follow-up range was

Discussion

It is feasible to recruit residents with dementia to participate in dance or music programs, and attrition was 20% over 8 months. Cognitive and physical testing was feasible with this population; however a ceiling effect on the SIB and the logistical challenge of the CGIC requiring separate interviews with the resident and staff informant meant they may not be optimal tools. The SPPB appeared appropriate.

Engagement during sessions was high with most residents actively participating in most

Conflicts of interest

Prof Brodaty is a director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, which funded this research. There are no other conflicts of interest.

Funding

This project was funded by the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at the University of New South Wales, Prof. Brodaty is a director of CHeBA.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Kim Burns, Tanya Voges, Cathy Goss and the residents and staff of The Whiddon Group, Glenfield. The project was hosted by the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre Assessment and Better Care.

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