Optimising music therapy interventions for people with dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising the impact of music therapy interventions in care settings for people with dementia, working alongside staff and carers
IRAS ID
246569
Contact name
Iain Spink
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
This research will investigate my current employed work as a Music Therapist within the care teams on NHS mental health hospital settings for older people, including people with dementia and older people with functional mental health conditions.
Research suggests that Music therapy has a positive impact on the symptoms and experience of people with dementia within care settings and in the management of these symptoms. (Kendra, 2017, McDermott, Orrell et al. 2014, Hsu 2017). What is less understood is how person centered music therapy can be optimised within the context of a team caring for people with dementia. Person centered approaches adjust the delivery of care and/or therapeutic interventions according to the preferences and needs of the individual. (McCormack & McCance, 2017)
The aim of my research is:
To identify the strategies that are effective to optimise the delivery of person centred music therapy whilst working alongside carers and staff in care settings for people with dementia, using a participatory research approach.I will investigate how I, as a music therapist, optimise the benefits of music therapy and ask how we, carers and staff, work together to achieve the person-centred outcomes of music therapy. I will identify the enablers of music therapy in this setting and the indicators that music therapy is having an impact on patients/service users.
The approach will comprise participatory action research and realist evaluation across a case study of a hospital ward care-team. Action cycles that start with the co-creation of shared purpose and direction will use evaluation, co creation and improvement methods methods including: values clarification (Warfield & Manley,1990), stakeholder evaluation (Guba & Lincoln, 1989), role clarity through qualitative 360 degree feedback (Garbett, Hardy et al. 2007), emotional touchpoints with staff and patients and carers. The action cycles will be guided by the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) improvement cycle. (ACT Academy, NHS 2018).
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0403
Date of REC Opinion
2 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion