Trials / Completed

CompletedNCT03985917

Singing Groups for Seniors: Well-Being, Cognitive Function and Health

"Grupos de Canto Para Seniores" Despacho Nº 11409-C/2017, Projeto n.º 626, From Orçamento Participativo Portugal, Ministério da Cultura

Status: Completed
Phase: N/A
Study type: Interventional
Enrollment: 140 (actual)

Sponsor: Iolanda Costa Galinha · Academic / Other
Sex: All
Age: 60 Years
Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The researchers' implement and measure the effects of a singing group intervention program for older adults, with an RCT design, in a natural context, on the health, well-being and cognitive function of older adults.

Detailed description

Background: Singing is a multimodal activity that requires physical, cognitive and psychosocial performance, with benefits in various domains of health and well-being of older adults. In recent years, research has increasingly studied group singing as an important cost-effective intervention to promote active and healthy aging. However, the specific factors responsible for these benefits need further experimental support, as most studies do not allow for causal inferences. This study responds to the need for further randomized controlled trials (RCT), with follow-up measurement, on the benefits of group singing in older adults with diverse socioeconomic status. Also, while most studies often focus on specific outcome measures dimensions, in this study, the conjoint effects of physical, psychosocial, emotional and cognitive dimensions are analyzed, testing mediation and moderation effects of psychosocial and cognitive variables in the health and well-being of the participants. Methods: The team implements and measures the effects of a singing group program for older adults, with an RCT design, in a natural context, before and after the intervention and in a follow-up, four months after the intervention. Participants: 140 retired older adults (\> 60 years), users of a social care institution, were invited to participate in a singing group program and randomly allocated to an experimental intervention group (n = 70), and a control (n = 70) group enrolled in the regular activities proposed by the institution. The intervention consists of 34 bi-weekly group singing sessions, of two-hours each, for four months. Measures on social and emotional well-being, cognitive function, and health indicators (as blood pressure, glycemia, cholesterol, c-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, respiratory function, body balance, body activity, sleep quality, medication intake, and health services attendance) will be collected. Interviews on the motivation and perceived benefits of participation will also be collected. Discussion: Significant improvements are expected in the outcome measures in the experimental group after the intervention, in comparison with the control group and the pretest, validating the singing group program as a cost-effective intervention for healthy aging. Psychoemotional, psychosocial and cognitive variables are expected to be mediators of the effects of the program on the health and well-being of the participants.

Conditions

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Singing Group Intervention Program	Each session will start with (1) relaxation, vocal warm-up and breething exercises; (2) vocal technique training; (3) memorization and interpretation of music and lyrics; (4) session breaks of 20 minutes for socialization; (5) preparation of a final choir show; (6) vocal tuning tests.
OTHER	Alternative Social and Leisure Activities	Day care centers provide social and leisure activities opportunities for older adults. The control group is free to enroll in these activities.

Timeline

Start date: 2018-12-05
Primary completion: 2019-02-20
Completion: 2020-02-28
First posted: 2019-06-14
Last updated: 2023-05-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Portugal

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT03985917. Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement.