Table 2:

Comparison of variables among elderly Malaysian subjects undergoing a combined dance and relaxation intervention (n = 44) as compared to controls (n = 40) undergoing relaxation exercises alone (N = 84)

Variable	Mean ± SD			P value	Partial η2*
	Baseline	Week 3	Week 6
Cognitive impairment†				<0.001	0.42
IG	23.7 ± 3.4	25.0 ± 3.3	26.6 ± 3.0
CG	22.6 ± 3.2	22.5 ± 3.2	21.2 ± 3.7
Anxiety‡				<0.001	0.26
IG	7.5 ± 3.5	6.1 ± 3.6	4.4 ± 2.7
CG	6.2 ± 3.7	7.1 ± 3.3	7.6 ± 3.1
Depression‡				<0.001	0.35
IG	7.6 ± 3.1	5.3 ± 3.0	3.7 ± 2.7
CG	7.1 ± 3.1	8.1 ± 3.3	8.4 ± 3.4
QOL§				<0.001	0.29
IG	32.0 ± 7.0	34.1 ± 5.1	36.4 ± 4.1
CG	31.6 ± 4.8	30.2 ± 4.6	28.8 ± 4.4

SD = standard deviation; IG = intervention group; CG = control group; QOL = quality of life.

^*Partial η² was used to measure the effect size as either small (0.01 ≤η² <0.06), medium (0.06 ≤η² <0.14) or large (η² ≥0.14).22

^†Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination with scores of 21–28 and 10–20 out of 30 indicating mild and moderate cognitive impairment, respectively.14

^‡Anxiety and depression were self-assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale with scores of <7, 8–10 and ≥11 out of 21 considered normal, borderline abnormal and abnormal, respectively.17,18

^§QOL was self-assessed by subjects using the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease questionnaire with scores of <33 and >34 out of 52 indicating low and high QOL, respectively.19,20