The efficacy of music therapy for people with dementia

The efficacy of music therapy for people with dementia: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/medline/docview/1760857345/A7AFD56D35704AB6PQ/9

Journal of clinical nursing 24.23-24 (December 2015): 3425-3440.

Chang, Yu-Shiun (Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan); Chu, Hsin (Aviation Physiology Research Laboratory, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital Gangshan Branch, Kaohsiung, Taiwan); Yang, Chyn-Yng (Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan); Tsai, Jui-Chen (Department of Nursing, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan); Chung, Min-Huey (Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan); Liao, Yuan-Mei (Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan); Chi, Mei-Ju (School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan); Liu, Megan F (School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan); Chou, Kuei-Ru (Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan)

Abstract

To (1) perform a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials pertaining to the efficacy of music therapy on disruptive behaviours, anxiety levels, depressive moods and cognitive functioning in people with dementia; and (2) clarify which interventions, therapists and participant characteristics exerted higher and more prominent effects. Present study was the first to perform a meta-analysis that included all the randomised controlled trials found in literature relating to music therapy for people with dementia over the past 15 years. A meta-analysis study design. Quantitative studies were retrieved from PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library Database, CINAHL, SCOPUS and PsycINFO. A meta-analysis was used to calculate the overall effect sizes of music therapy on outcome indicators. Music therapy significantly improved disruptive behaviours [Hedges’ g = -0·66; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0·44 to -0·88] and anxiety levels (Hedges’ g = -0·51; 95% CI = -0·02 to -1·00) in people with dementia. Music therapy might affect depressive moods (Hedges’ g = -0·39; 95% CI = 0·01 to -0·78), and cognitive functioning (Hedges’ g = 0·19; 95% CI = 0·45 to -0·08). Music therapy exerted a moderately large effect on disruptive behaviours of people with dementia, a moderate effect on anxiety levels and depressive moods, and a small effect on cognitive functioning. Individual music therapy provided once a week to patients with cognitive functioning and manual guided in music intervention construction is suggested. Group music therapy is provided several times a week to reduce their disruptive behaviours, anxiety levels and depressive moods. Music therapy is a cost-effective, enjoyable, noninvasive therapy and could be useful for clinical nurses in creating an environment that is conducive to the well-being of patients with dementia. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.