Moving singing for lung health online in response to COVID-19: experience from a randomised controlled trial

Introduction Singing for Lung Health (SLH) is a popular arts-in-health activity for people with long-term respiratory conditions. Participants report biopsychosocial benefits, however research on impact is limited. The ‘SHIELD trial’, a randomised controlled, single (assessor) blind, trial of 12 weeks SLH vs usual care for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (n=120) was set-up to help to address this. The first group (n=18, 9 singing and 9 controls) started face-to-face (5 sessions) before changing to online delivery (7 sessions) due to COVID-19 related physical distancing measures. As such, the experience of this group is here reported as a pilot study to inform further research in this area. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis regarding barriers, facilitators and key considerations for transitioning from face-to-face to online delivery. Pilot quantitative outcomes include attendance, pre and post measures of quality of life and disease impact (SF-36, CAT score), breathlessness (MRC breathlessness scale, Dyspnoea-12), depression (PHQ9), anxiety (GAD-7), balance confidence (ABC scale) and physical activity (clinical visit PROactive physical activity in COPD tool, combining subjective rating and actigraphy). Results Attendance was 69% overall, (90% of the face-to-face sessions, 53% online sessions). Analysis of semi-structured interviews identified three themes regarding participation in SLH delivered face-to-face and online, these where 1) perceived benefits; 2) digital barriers (online); 3) digital facilitators (online). Findings were summarised into key considerations for optimising transitioning singing groups from face-to-face to online delivery. Pilot quantitative data suggested possible improvements in depression (treatment effect -4.78 PHQ9 points, p< 0.05, MCID 5) and balance confidence (treatment effect +17.21 ABC Scale points, p=0.04, MCID 14.2). Discussion This study identifies key considerations regarding the adaptation of SLH from face-to-face to online delivery. Pilot data suggest online group singing for people with COPD may deliver benefits related to reducing depression and improved balance confidence

Error measurement in craniometrics: the comparative performance of four popular assessment methods using 2000 simulated cranial length datasets (g-op)

For measurements to be accurate and precise, measurement errors should be small. In the anthropometry and craniofacial identification literature, four methods are commonly used for assessing measurement error: Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient (r), intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), statistical significance tests (often reported by P-values) and the technical error of measurement (TEM; also known as Dalberg's error/ratio). In this paper, the performance of all four of these statistics were evaluated using maximum cranial lengths (g-op) from Howells (n=2524), by duplicating the dataset and mathematically adding known degrees of error to the second set. This was repeated under a broad array of trials (2000 total) each with slightly different amounts of error simulation to comprehensively assess the four error metrics in terms of descriptive power and utility, using the same data for each of the four error assessment methods. Data simulations included the addition of random and systematic errors of different sizes with absolute differences ranging from 1 to 50mm (or in relative terms, 28% of the original measurement). Two sample sizes (n=25 and 2524 individuals) were explored and all analyses were conducted in R. P-values from Student's t-tests only showed significant differences (

Experiences of acquired brain injury survivors participating in online and hybrid performance arts programmes: an ethnographic study

Background: Performance arts can benefit people with acquired brain injury (ABI). This study explored the online delivery during COVID-19 restrictions, of a performance art intervention through the experiences of participants, artists and facilitators. Methods: Two community-based programmes were delivered. Online ethnographic observations and semi-structured interviews with participants, artists and facilitators were completed. Results: The programmes benefited participants by addressing loneliness and isolation; building confidence through peer support; improving physical limitations through movement; improving communication through music and vocal work; and using poetry, visual arts, metaphor and performance to make sense of participants’ experiences. Participants had mixed experiences of participation, but it was an acceptable alternative to in-person arts interventions for those who overcame digital challenges. Conclusions: ABI survivors can engage in online performance art programmes and find participation valuable for their health, well-being, and recovery. More work is needed to explore the generalisability of these findings, especially given digital poverty

Longitudinal associations between short-term, repeated, and sustained arts engagement and well-being outcomes in older adults

Objectives: This study investigated whether frequency of receptive arts engagement over 10 years contributes to experienced, evaluative and eudaimonic well-being in older adults. Methods: We used repeated data of 3,188 respondents from waves 2 to 7 (2004/2005-2014/2015) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We examined longitudinal associations between short-term (frequent engagement at one wave), repeated (frequent engagement at 2-3 waves), and sustained (frequent engagement at 4-6 waves) arts engagement and experienced, evaluative and eudaimonic well-being. We fitted linear and logistic regression models adjusted for baseline well-being and a number of sociodemographic, economic, health and social engagement factors. Results: In the fully-adjusted models, short-term engagement was not longitudinally associated with well-being, but repeated engagement with the theatre/concerts/opera and museums/galleries/exhibitions was associated with enhanced eudaimonic well-being and sustained engagement with these activities was associated with greater experienced, evaluative and eudaimonic well-being

Beyond the disease: Is Toxoplasma gondii infection causing population declines in the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus)?

Disease is often considered a key threat to species of conservation significance. For some, it has resulted in localised extinctions and declines in range and abundance. However, for some species, the assertion that a disease poses a significant threat of extinction is based solely on correlative or anecdotal evidence, often inferred from individual clinical case reports. While a species' susceptibility to a disease may be demonstrated in a number of individuals, investigations rarely extend to measuring the impact of disease at the population level and its contribution, if any, to population declines. The eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized Australian marsupial carnivore that is undergoing severe and rapid decline in Tasmania, its last refuge. Reasons for the decline are currently not understood. Feral cats (Felis catus) may be undergoing competitive release following the ongoing decline of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), with cats suppressing eastern quolls through increased predation, competition, exclusion or exposure to diseases such as toxoplasmosis. To investigate the effects of Toxoplasma gondii infection, eastern quoll populations at four sites were regularly screened for the seroprevalence of T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies. Seroprevalence was approximately five times higher at sites with declining quoll populations, and there was a negative association between seroprevalence and quoll abundance. However, T. gondii infection did not reduce quoll survival or reproduction. Despite a high susceptibility to T. gondii infection, eastern quoll populations do not appear to be limited by the parasite or its resultant disease. Significantly higher seroprevalence is a signal of greater exposure to feral cats at sites where eastern quolls are declining, suggesting that increased predation, competition or exclusion by feral cats may be precipitating population declines

Religion and religious education : comparing and contrasting pupils’ and teachers’ views in an English school

This publication builds on and develops the English findings of the qualitative study of European teenagers’ perspectives on religion and religious education (Knauth et al. 2008), part of ‘Religion in Education: A contribution to dialogue or a factor of conflict in transforming societies of European countries?’ (REDCo) project. It uses data gathered from 27 pupils, aged 15-16, from a school in a multicultural Northern town in England and compares those findings with data gathered from ten teachers in the humanities faculty of the same school, collected during research for the Warwick REDCo Community of Practice. Comparisons are drawn between the teachers’ and their pupils’ attitudes and values using the same structure as the European study: personal views and experiences of religion, the social dimension of religion, and religious education in school. The discussion offers an analysis of the similarities and differences in worldviews and beliefs which emerged. These include religious commitment/observance differences between the mainly Muslim-heritage pupils and their mainly non-practising Christian-heritage teachers. The research should inform the ways in which the statutory duties to promote community cohesion and equalities can be implemented in schools. It should also facilitate intercultural and interreligious understanding between teachers and the pupils from different ethnic and religious backgrounds

Experiences of acquired brain injury survivors participating in online and hybrid performance arts programmes: an ethnographic study.

BACKGROUND: Performance arts can benefit people with acquired brain injury (ABI). This study explored the online delivery during COVID-19 restrictions, of a performance art intervention through the experiences of participants, artists and facilitators. METHODS: Two community-based programmes were delivered. Online ethnographic observations and semi-structured interviews with participants, artists and facilitators were completed. RESULTS: The programmes benefited participants by addressing loneliness and isolation; building confidence through peer support; improving physical limitations through movement; improving communication through music and vocal work; and using poetry, visual arts, metaphor and performance to make sense of participants' experiences. Participants had mixed experiences of participation, but it was an acceptable alternative to in-person arts interventions for those who overcame digital challenges. CONCLUSIONS: ABI survivors can engage in online performance art programmes and find participation valuable for their health, well-being, and recovery. More work is needed to explore the generalisability of these findings, especially given digital poverty

A Protocol to Understand the Implementation and Experiences of an Online Community-Based Performance Arts Programme Through and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic, Brain Waves.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals living with acquired brain injury experience numerous psychological, physical, and social challenges. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many have experienced additional isolation, mental health issues and have had limited access to social and physical activities otherwise available in the community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain Waves is a 12-week online performance arts programme developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, for people with acquired brain injury (ABI). The research component of Brain Waves is a qualitative study, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and ethnographic methods (Observations and Interviews). The study will recruit two distinct populations: individuals living with acquired brain injury (including people who have experienced traumatic brain injury and stroke who are participating in the programme) and stakeholders (facilitators, involved in the delivery of Brain Waves). This paper presents the protocol for a project which aims to gain an understanding of the implementation and experiences of creating and participating in an online community-based performance arts programme

A Protocol to Understand the Implementation and Experiences of an Online Community-Based Performance Arts Programme Through and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic, Brain Waves.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals living with acquired brain injury experience numerous psychological, physical, and social challenges. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many have experienced additional isolation, mental health issues and have had limited access to social and physical activities otherwise available in the community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain Waves is a 12-week online performance arts programme developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, for people with acquired brain injury (ABI). The research component of Brain Waves is a qualitative study, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and ethnographic methods (Observations and Interviews). The study will recruit two distinct populations: individuals living with acquired brain injury (including people who have experienced traumatic brain injury and stroke who are participating in the programme) and stakeholders (facilitators, involved in the delivery of Brain Waves). This paper presents the protocol for a project which aims to gain an understanding of the implementation and experiences of creating and participating in an online community-based performance arts programme

Critical Reflections on Methodological Challenge in Arts and Dementia Evaluation and Research

Methodological rigour, or its absence, is often a focus of concern for the emerging field of evaluation and research around arts and dementia. However, this paper suggests that critical attention should also be paid to the way in which individual perceptions, hidden assumptions and underlying social and political structures influence methodological work in the field. Such attention will be particularly important for addressing methodological challenges relating to contextual variability, ethics, value judgement, and signification identified through a literature review on this topic. Understanding how, where and when evaluators and researchers experience such challenges may help to identify fruitful approaches for future evaluation. This paper is based upon a presentation on the subject given at the First International Research Conference on the Arts and Dementia: Theory, Methodology and Evidence on 9 March 2017