Planned Investigation, Assessment and Evaluation of the Use of Music-Based Interventions in the Community Hospital Setting Lucy Frost, Dementia Lead, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust Methods This is a feasibility mixed methods study. Patient data is collected by semi structured interviews, observations using Dementia Care Mapping, and quality of life measured with the DEMQOL-Proxy questionnaire. Staff data is collected via semi structured interviews which are transcribed and subject to thematic analysis. Introduction The project is a 6 month feasibility study of the potential benefit of music-based interventions for people with dementia or memory impairment being cared for in a community hospital. The study is investigating the possibility of music making increasing staff and patient interactions, and whether the wellbeing of patients can be enhanced measurably. The study focuses on 3 key questions: 1. Can it be demonstrated that the introduction of music- based interventions in community hospitals can enhance the levels of interaction between patients with dementia and the nursing and ward staff? Data collection will be focused on participants who have a dementia diagnosis or history of memory loss and/or cognitive impairment. 2. Can it be demonstrated that wellbeing has improved demonstrably for people with dementia through the introduction of music-based interventions? 3. Can it be demonstrated that the introduction of music-based interventions into an inpatient setting can reduce negative behaviours? We seek to study if wellbeing is increased through a music-based intervention, and if so can the intervention change the patient experience to a degree that the cost of ‘specialing’ in community hospitals can be reduced? . Results Qualitative interviews and Dementia Care Mapping will be used alongside quantitative measures to observe and assess the impact of music- based interventions over 30 music sessions. Music interventions are delivered by Rhythmix Wishing Well, Music in Healthcare Programme. The results so far from early data from Dementia Care Mapping have shown a marked change in levels of interaction and engagement with the ward environment. Cultural themes are emerging around attitudes towards the importance of activity for people who are at risk of becoming more disengaged through boredom. Music has been seen as a ‘nice’ thing but not really important. In interviews staff participants are sharing a change in this view, that the music intervention is key to that patient’s care. S7 interview “…because they’re not in their own home environment they’re kind of restrained to what they can normally do, their normal activities, their likes and dislikes, it is literally worse than a prison being in hospital because we’ve got limited equipment such as televisions... music helps everybody not just patients with memory problems. It evokes memories, helps the ward harmony better, brings people together, music therapy is a brilliant thing... it brings the patients and staff and visitors all together. If they hear a song it encourages discussion and it helps us also know a little bit about the patient because to every point in somebody’s life they often have a song about it.” Dementia Care Maps Activity pre music session Activity post music session Mood and Engagement pre music session Mood and Engagement post music session Feasibility Study Team: Lucy Frost: Project Lead Laura Hughes: PhD Student Brighton & Sussex Medical School Wishing Well Programme Sarah West: Filmmaker www.westcreative.org Contact details [email protected] For more information about the Rhythmix Wishing Well Programme please contact Jo White [email protected] Participants Patients - the study is recruiting patient participants with a diagnosis of dementia or a history of memory impairment. Staff - the study is recruiting staff working in the setting to explore their perspectives of music-based interventions on the ward. Staff Patients S1 P1 S2 P2 S3 P3 S4 P4 S5 P5 S6 P6 S7 P7 S8 P8 S9 45 27 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 A B C D E F G I J K L N O P R S T U V W X Y Z % of Time Behaviour Categories 42 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 A B C D E F G I J K L N O P R S T U V W X Y Z % of Time Behaviour Categories 0 0 8 92 0 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 -5 -3 -1 +1 +3 +5 % of Time ME Values 0 0 0 90 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 -5 -3 -1 +1 +3 +5 % of Time ME Values Jo White: Project Manager