Author: Tang Q1, Zhou Y2, Yang S1, Thomas WKS3, Smith GD4, Yang Z3, Yuan L3, Chung JW3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Guangzhou Huiai hospital, Affiliated Brian Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
<sup>2</sup>School of Nursing, Guangzhou Medical University, China. Electronic address: zhouying0610@163.com.
<sup>3</sup>Guangzhou Medical University, China.
<sup>4</sup>School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh UK.
Conference/Journal: Geriatr Nurs.
Date published: 2018 Mar 15
Other:
Pages: S0197-4572(18)30047-8 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.02.003. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 167
This study examined the effectiveness of group music intervention in the treatment of nursing home residents with apathy. Apathy can clinically defined with a score of 40 or above on the apathy evaluation scale (AES). Seventy-seven residents were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group was given a music intervention programme, which included listening to traditional music, including nostalgic songs, and playing musical instruments three times a week, for a total of twelve weeks. Results demonstrated a decrease in apathy scores in the intervention group (z = 4.667, P <0.01), but not in the control group (z = -1.810, P > 0.05). Cognitive function, as assessed by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, was stable in the intervention group (t = 1.720, P > 0.05), but declined in the control group (t = -1.973, P <0.05). We conclude that music intervention has the potential to be an effective therapy for the treatment of apathy in the early stages of dementia.
KEYWORDS: Apathy; Dementia; Music intervention; Older people nursing
PMID: 29551546 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.02.003