Expanding access to group singing for people with dementia: implications of music therapy skill sharing for research and practice

Background: 850,000 people in the UK are estimated to be living with dementia. The importance of supporting people with dementia and their carers through psychosocial interventions is widely acknowledged. The potential of music-based interventions to provide this support is becoming well-recognised, but demand exceeds supply. Group singing is an increasingly popular activity for people with dementia and their carers, and a growing number of community based singing groups are being implemented. However, to date there have been no large-scale studies demonstrating the benefits of community group singing for this population. Music therapy skill-sharing is a way of supporting facilitators without formal therapy training, and increasing capacity to provide singing opportunities, but we need to know how these skills can be communicated most effectively and efficiently. The CHORD (Chorus Research in Dementia) manual has been developed by music therapists to provide guidance to singing group facilitators. Aims: The aim of this doctoral study is to investigate ways to expand access to singing groups for people with dementia by testing an approach to skill-sharing (the CHORD manual), understanding the perspective of group attendees, and by evaluating commonly-used ways of measuring the benefits of singing. Methods: The design was conceived as a mixed-methods feasibility study, supported by two complementary literature reviews. A novice singing group facilitator used the CHORD manual to lead 10 weekly singing sessions for people with dementia and their carers. Data was collected from participants using measures of mood, quality of life, and musical engagement, as well as interviews and focus groups. All the sessions were video recorded. Following data analysis, qualitative and quantitative results were synthesised. Results: The synthesis of the two literature reviews indicated that there were some differences between the outcomes prioritised in music therapy practice and research, with research tending to focus on the reduction of neuropsychiatric symptoms. The feasibility study showed that the novice facilitator found the CHORD manual an effective and accessible tool which enabled her to lead a successful group. Participants reported that the facilitator’s openness to sharing her challenges established a point of commonality with the group members. Exploratory analyses of the quantitative data revealed no effects of the singing group on mood and quality of life, but a range of benefits were qualitatively reported, with social benefits being a particularly prominent theme. Synthesis indicated dissonance between quantitative and qualitative results on a case level as well as within groups. Although the research methods were acceptable to the participants, the chosen outcome measures did not detect the changes which were qualitatively described by participants. Conclusion: Skill sharing initiatives such as the CHORD manual have potential to provide an accessible way of expanding access to music-based interventions, but care must be taken to ensure that the skills which are shared are suitable for dissemination in this way. Response to group singing is complex and individual, and measuring its benefits is a challenge for research. There is a need to develop methodological solutions which provide reliable evidence for the value of the arts at a meaningful level without undermining the flexible and intuitive essence of the intervention which they are designed to evaluate

Round-up: 2013 GovInfo Day

The 2013 annual gathering of librarians interested in government and legal information focused on this year's unofficial theme of access: continued access to government information and imporved access to legal resources

An ongoing process of reconnection: A qualitative exploration of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for adults in remission from depression

Objectives Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an 8-week relapse-prevention intervention designed for people who have experienced multiple episodes of depression and remain vulnerable to relapse. Previous qualitative explorations of the effects of MBCT for people in remission from depression have suggested a number of themes regarding changes arising from participating in MBCT ranging from awareness, agency, perspective, group processes, self-related change, and new ways of understanding depression. We aimed to qualitatively explore how participants in remission from depression experienced MBCT both post-MBCT and during a follow-up period. Methods In a preference-choice trial design, 35 participants took part in qualitative interviews and assessments post-MBCT and at three time points during a 12-month follow-up. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Two overarching themes were developed as follows: (1) ‘reconnection with experience, self, and others’ and (2) ‘acknowledging an ongoing process of change’. In theme one, sub-themes captured participants’ experiences of increasing levels of awareness of their experience (e.g., thoughts, emotions, sensations, and present moment) from which they described changes in their relationship with experience describing increases in control, choice, acceptance, and calm. Participants described shifts towards reconnection with aspects of the self and relationships with others. In theme two, sub-themes reflected participants’ conflict between avoidance and engagement in mindfulness practices, and the recognition of the gradual change following MBCT and long-term investment needed in mindfulness practices. Conclusions Our findings have clinical implications in terms of facilitating MBCT and point to important themes around recognizing the ongoing process of reconnection with experiences, self, and others

An ongoing process of reconnection: A qualitative exploration of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for adults in remission from depression

From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2021-03-22, rev-recd 2021-06-27, pub-electronic 2021-07-17Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedObjectives: Mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an 8‐week relapse‐prevention intervention designed for people who have experienced multiple episodes of depression and remain vulnerable to relapse. Previous qualitative explorations of the effects of MBCT for people in remission from depression have suggested a number of themes regarding changes arising from participating in MBCT ranging from awareness, agency, perspective, group processes, self‐related change, and new ways of understanding depression. We aimed to qualitatively explore how participants in remission from depression experienced MBCT both post‐MBCT and during a follow‐up period. Methods: In a preference‐choice trial design, 35 participants took part in qualitative interviews and assessments post‐MBCT and at three time points during a 12‐month follow‐up. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Two overarching themes were developed as follows: (1) ‘reconnection with experience, self, and others’ and (2) ‘acknowledging an ongoing process of change’. In theme one, sub‐themes captured participants’ experiences of increasing levels of awareness of their experience (e.g., thoughts, emotions, sensations, and present moment) from which they described changes in their relationship with experience describing increases in control, choice, acceptance, and calm. Participants described shifts towards reconnection with aspects of the self and relationships with others. In theme two, sub‐themes reflected participants’ conflict between avoidance and engagement in mindfulness practices, and the recognition of the gradual change following MBCT and long‐term investment needed in mindfulness practices. Conclusions: Our findings have clinical implications in terms of facilitating MBCT and point to important themes around recognizing the ongoing process of reconnection with experiences, self, and others. Practitioner points: Participants with histories of depression may have experienced disconnection and isolation from internal experiences (e.g., thoughts and emotions), self, and others; MBCT encourages a deliberate shift towards reconnection with these experiences. Practitioners could encourage more psychoeducation and discussions around depression during MBCT to encourage reflections on the process of reconnection. Practitioners should maintain an awareness of the ongoing, gradual processes of change and potential for conflict experienced during MBCT Practitioners could provide a stronger emphasis on building awareness of body sensations during MBCT, with suggestions provided in the discussion section

Collaborating with GLAM Institutions

This essay cluster features three essays by students which reflect on their experiences developing digital scholarly resources in collaboration with the GLAM sector (the acronym for galleries, libraries, archives, and museums). Each essay focuses on a particular project: a digital exhibit of Redpath Museum’s precious seahorse collection, a digital collection of Renaissance books published by the printer-publisher Aldus Manutius held at Simon Fraser University Library Special Collections, and a digital exhibit of Victorian-era Pre-Raphaelite books hosted by the University of Victoria Library. In describing these projects, these essays reveal emerging models of digital pedagogy involving collaboration among students, faculty, and librarians. Lisa Goddard and Rebecca Dowson, academic librarians specialized in digital scholarship from the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University, respond to these essays, offering their perspective on what student–GLAM collaborations add to the mission of academic libraries.   Résumé Ce regroupement de dissertation se compose de trois dissertations écrites par des étudiants qui réfléchissent à leurs expériences acquises en développant des ressources universitaires numériques en collaboration avec le secteur GLAM (l’acronyme anglais pour 'Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums', ou Galeries, Bibliothèques, Archives et Musées). Chaque dissertation se focalise sur un projet particulier : sur une exposition numérique de la collection précieuse d’hippocampes du Musée Redpath ; sur une collection numérique de livres de la Renaissance publiés par l’imprimeur-éditeur Aldus Manutius, ce qui se trouve dans les Collections Spéciales de la Bibliothèque de l’Université Simon Fraser ; et sur une exposition numérique de livres Pré-Raphaelite venant de l’époque victorienne qui a eu lieu à la Bibliothèque de l’Université de Victoria. En décrivant ces projets, ces dissertations révèlent des modèles émergents de pédagogie numérique qui nécessitent la collaboration entre des étudiants, des membres de faculté et des bibliothécaires. Lisa Goddard et Rebecca Dowson, des bibliothécaires académiques qui se spécialisent dans l’érudition numérique de l’Université de Victoria et de l’Université Simon Fraser, répondent à ces dissertations, en donnant leur perspective sur ce que les collaborations étudiant-GLAM contribuent à la mission des bibliothèques académiques.   Mots-clés: institutions GLAM; humanités numériques (DH); exposition numérique; curation numérique; métadonnées descriptives; pédagogie numériqu

Expanding access to group singing for people with dementia: implications of music therapy skill sharing for research and practice

Background: 850,000 people in the UK are estimated to be living with dementia. The importance of supporting people with dementia and their carers through psychosocial interventions is widely acknowledged. The potential of music-based interventions to provide this support is becoming well-recognised, but demand exceeds supply. Group singing is an increasingly popular activity for people with dementia and their carers, and a growing number of community based singing groups are being implemented. However, to date there have been no large-scale studies demonstrating the benefits of community group singing for this population. Music therapy skill-sharing is a way of supporting facilitators without formal therapy training, and increasing capacity to provide singing opportunities, but we need to know how these skills can be communicated most effectively and efficiently. The CHORD (Chorus Research in Dementia) manual has been developed by music therapists to provide guidance to singing group facilitators. Aims: The aim of this doctoral study is to investigate ways to expand access to singing groups for people with dementia by testing an approach to skill-sharing (the CHORD manual), understanding the perspective of group attendees, and by evaluating commonly-used ways of measuring the benefits of singing. Methods: The design was conceived as a mixed-methods feasibility study, supported by two complementary literature reviews. A novice singing group facilitator used the CHORD manual to lead 10 weekly singing sessions for people with dementia and their carers. Data was collected from participants using measures of mood, quality of life, and musical engagement, as well as interviews and focus groups. All the sessions were video recorded. Following data analysis, qualitative and quantitative results were synthesised. Results: The synthesis of the two literature reviews indicated that there were some differences between the outcomes prioritised in music therapy practice and research, with research tending to focus on the reduction of neuropsychiatric symptoms. The feasibility study showed that the novice facilitator found the CHORD manual an effective and accessible tool which enabled her to lead a successful group. Participants reported that the facilitator’s openness to sharing her challenges established a point of commonality with the group members. Exploratory analyses of the quantitative data revealed no effects of the singing group on mood and quality of life, but a range of benefits were qualitatively reported, with social benefits being a particularly prominent theme. Synthesis indicated dissonance between quantitative and qualitative results on a case level as well as within groups. Although the research methods were acceptable to the participants, the chosen outcome measures did not detect the changes which were qualitatively described by participants. Conclusion: Skill sharing initiatives such as the CHORD manual have potential to provide an accessible way of expanding access to music-based interventions, but care must be taken to ensure that the skills which are shared are suitable for dissemination in this way. Response to group singing is complex and individual, and measuring its benefits is a challenge for research. There is a need to develop methodological solutions which provide reliable evidence for the value of the arts at a meaningful level without undermining the flexible and intuitive essence of the intervention which they are designed to evaluate

Mind The Gap! A Team Approach to Developing More Student-Centered General Instruction

How do we bridge the gaps between: general information literacy standards vs. specific classroom contexts, developing vs. delivering workshop content, what we (and faculty) think students need to know vs. what they think they need to know? Join a team of library assistants and librarians for a lively and interactive discussion of ways we can work together to establish effective feedback loops to continually assess and improve our general library instruction programs