Music Matters, but so Does the Outcome Measure: A Randomized Controlled Trial for an Individualized Music Intervention for People Living with Dementia.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate differential effects of an individualized music listening intervention for people living with dementia in institutional care.

Methods: Data from 118 people living with dementia, with a mean age of 84.05 years (SD = 7.00 years, 76.3% were female), was used to investigate effects of 6 weeks of listening to individualized music. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group, listening to individualized playlists for 20 min every other day, and a control group, receiving standard care. Effects of the intervention were analyzed by proxy ratings using Goal Attainment Scaling. Different aspects of quality of life were also assessed and analyzed using standardized questionnaires at four assessment points.

Results: Attainment of individual goals following 6 weeks of individualized music listening was more frequently reported from the nursing staff in the intervention group, compared to the control group (d = .57). There were no effects of listening to individualized music regularly considering questionnaire data on different aspects of quality of life.

Conclusions: Using a personalized measure may help to understand the potential of individualized music listening more adequately.

Clinical implications: The results indicate that listening to music can lead to positive but individually different effects.

Registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00013793); ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN59052178).