Arts & Health最新文献

Background: Arts-based programs can counter the dominant narrative of loss associated with dementia, in part through fostering expressions of agency. This study uses social science theories of interaction between structure and agency to examine how an arts-based movement program, entitled Mouvement de passage, supports agency among individuals with dementia.

Methods: Ethnographic methods were used to trace how participants enact agency within the structure of the movement program. The program's sessions were video recorded and iteratively analyzed.

Results: Participants expressed their agency in three ways: 1) transforming the exercise's structure according to individual interests and desires; 2) resisting the exercise's structure; and 3) improvising movements collectively.

Conclusions: The movements of individuals with dementia were shaped by both program structure and individual/collective expressions of agency. The design of Mouvement de passage, based on open-ended structures and voluntary participation, provides a template for developing interventions that foster agency among these persons.

Background: The objective was to assess the impact of an Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program on the quality of life of patients living at a complex continuing care hospital.

Methods: In the AiR program, a professional Artist facilitated the creation of community art projects by patients in groups (before COVID-19) and individually (during COVID-19). Four patients, four staff and one family member involved with the program were interviewed to assess their experiences.

Results: Themes identified included improvements in spiritual, mental and community health, creation of a sense of community, learning skills and knowledge surrounding art and culture, and the importance of the Artist's personal characteristics/personality. It was recommended to continue and expand the program.

Conclusions: The patients deeply enjoyed the AiR program and working with the Artist. Non-patient participants also recognized benefits for the hospital community. Procurement of stable funding and expansion of the program are areas to focus on next.

Background: Previous work suggests mediating effects of music on acute pain processing. This quasi-experimental pilot study examined the effects of music on experimental pain sensitivity.

Methods: Healthy adults (N = 40) completed quantitative sensory tests during three music conditions (silence, listening, and singing). Repeated Measures ANOVA , Friedman's Test, and post hoc comparisons determined differences in pain intensity and time to cold pain threshold and tolerance between conditions.. Pearson partial correlations evaluated the association of musical factorswith pain sensitivity.

Results: Participants demonstrated longer time intervals until perceiving pain and tolerated pain for longer durations when singing compared to listening. Greater self-reported singing proficiency was associated with higher tolerance. Several musical factors were significantly correlated with time from pain threshold to reaching tolerance.

Conclusion: Singing during an acute painful stimulus may increase tolerance. Various musical characteristics impact volunteers' central pain responses and singing may be an important adjunct pain management strategy.

Aims: This study aimed to explore the experiences of a group of adults with a history of substance misuse taking part in a novel, multi-centre cultural intervention: Creative Conversations, including the impact of the project on participants' mental health.

Methods: A qualitative approach was used including a Visual Matrix and observation in order to explore the experiences of 10 participants recruited from drug and alcohol services.

Results: The results indicated positive impacts on mental health including a growing sense of competence, engagement, social integration and a sense that the project provided therapeutic support that translated into integrating creative activities into their everyday habits.

Conclusions: Cultural interventions like Creative Conversations demonstrate positive impacts on mental health, engaging individuals who may find it difficult to access services such as those with substance misuse issues, and play an important role in sustaining and promoting mental wellbeing in the community. Despite positive findings, projects such as this require adequate staff training and sustained funding in order to provide wider benefits to those with mental health problems.

Background: The recognition of the connection between arts, health and well-being has been growing during the recent two decades in Finland. The arts and health field has evolved from grass-roots activities to more systematic approaches of integrating arts and culture as part of social welfare and healthcare services and health promotion.

Methods: :This paper provides an overview of the current state of the arts and health field in Finland, through an examination of policy developments, practice, research and education.

Results: :The arts and health field has been gaining strength and institutionalizing in Finland since the beginning of the 1990s. During the 2010s, the field has gained momentum from national policy programmes and strategical cross-sectoral collaboration on the ministerial level.

Conclusions: The article explores also the prospects of arts and health field in Finland. Both possibilities for success and some of the challenges hindering the development of the field are discussed.

Background: Engagement in non-verbal communication positively influences well-being of persons with dementia, but requires good communication skills from caregivers. An important element of non-verbal communication is attunement, but even though communication is essential for persons experiencing severe cognitive decline, attunement has not been systematically examined in dementia care.

Method: A meta-ethnographic review was conducted to investigate the concept of attunement in dementia care.

Results: Six qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Three interwoven themes formed a line-of-argument describing attunement with persons with dementia; (1) Taking the perspective of the person with dementia and the importance of person-centred approach, (2) Developing understanding through an empathic approach and (3) Using musical parameters in the interaction: Tempo adjustments, timing and the use of music.

Conclusion: The results bring new knowledge about reciprocity and musical elements in non-verbal communication in dementia care and how these elements potentially increase well-being of persons with dementia.

Background: This service evaluation examined the impact of Dance for Health, a programme of weekly group dance sessions for older patients, which took place on wards in an acute hospital setting.Methods: Qualitative and quantitative observations using the ArtsObs scale were undertaken of 64 dance sessions over a 12-week period involving seven different hospital wards encompassing 313 patient attendances.Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in the mood of the majority of patients taking part. People engaged mentally and physically with the activity were distracted from their medical condition and from what was happening on the ward. Patients appeared relaxed and were willing to express themselves creatively.Conclusion: The Dance for Health programme had a positive impact on group participants, promoting movement and physical activity for older patients. It is a meaningful and enjoyable activity, which encourages social interaction and provides respite from the medical environment.

Background: Dementia can negatively impact the well-being of people living with dementia and their family carers. Research suggests that music psychosocial interventions are effective, safe alternatives to pharmacological interventions for the promotion of well-being . However, evidence is limited, and research gaps remain. This study explores how a community-based group singing intervention impacts the well-being of people with early-stage dementia and their family carers.

Methods: A phenomenological methodological approach was adopted. Participants engaged in a six-week group singing intervention facilitated by a music therapist in a community arts centre. Semi-structured interviews were conducted (n = 7).

Results: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis revealed four superordinate themes: (1) Social Connection; (2) Happiness and Rejuvenation; (3) Reconnection with the Self; and (4) Supporting the Carer-Cared-for Relationship.

Conclusions: Evidence of multidimensional enhancement of well-being, absence of adverse effects, and accessibility of this musical medium support the increased provision of community-based singing groups for these populations.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly experience dyspnea, which may limit activities of daily living. Pursed-lip breathing improves dyspnea for COPD patients; however, access to pursed-lip breathing training is limited.

Methods: The proposed MELodica Orchestra for DYspnea (MELODY) study will be a single-site pilot study to assess the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of a music-based approach to teach pursed-lip breathing. Patients with COPD and moderate-severe dyspnea are randomized to intervention, education-control, or usual care control groups. Intervention patients meet twice weekly for eight weeks for melodica instruction, group music-making, and COPD education. Safety, feasibility, and efficacy is assessed qualitatively and quantitatively.

Results: This manuscript describes the rationale and methods of the MELODY pilot project.

Conclusions: If pilot data demonstrate efficacy, then a multi-site randomized control trial will be conducted to evaluate program effectiveness and implementation.

Background: Engagement in the arts may have health benefits for older adults. Most research has focused on music and dance; less is known about the benefits of other arts interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of visual (ceramics and collage) and literary arts (storytelling and writing) on well-being.

Methods: We used mixed methods to examine the effects of a 12-week visual or literary arts intervention on well-being. Adults age 55 and over from four housing sites were assigned to start an intervention immediately (intervention) or wait 12 weeks (controls). The study included pre/post-test measures of well-being and focus groups about perceived benefits.

Results: Compared to controls, participants in the ceramics intervention had significant improvements in interest in life and mastery, while no changes were observed after the storytelling intervention. Seven psychosocial benefits were identified .

Conclusions: Participation in visual and literary arts for older adults was associated with well-being media.