Hsieh 2010.
| Methods | RCT. | |
| Participants | 61 residents from 2 nursing homes in Northern Taiwan diagnosed with dementia using the DSM‐IV. Mean age: 77 years. |
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| Interventions | Intervention: group RT. Control: no treatment. |
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| Outcomes | Mood‐related outcomes: GDS, AES‐C, NPI (Apathy subscale and Depression subscale). | |
| Length and frequency of intervention | 1 × 40‐ to 50‐minute session per week for 12 weeks. | |
| Time points measured | Baseline and postintervention (12 weeks' postbaseline). | |
| Number of participants who did not complete study | 5/61 (8.2%). | |
| Notes | ||
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Stated that participants were randomised to either control or treatment condition. Method not specified. Attempted to contact author but no response received. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Not specified. |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Nursing home staff completed the NPI. Single investigator administered the other scales but no details regarding blinding. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | 4 withdrawals from intervention group and 1 from control group. 1 participant died but no reasons given for the withdrawal of the other 4 participants. Authors carried out analysis with remaining 56 participants. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | All outcomes listed in the methods section were reported and there was no evidence of selective outcome reporting. |
| Other bias | Low risk | n/a. |
| Availability of training and supervision Objective outcome measures | Unclear risk | Not specified, though research teams who specialised in geriatric psychiatric nursing served as leaders and coleaders in the intervention group. |
| Availability of manual or protocol for intervention All outcomes | Low risk | Paper stated, "the components of all the sessions had clear structures and guidelines for the leaders and co‐leaders to facilitate the group interventions' and a 'research protocol was designed to include 18 activities suitable for all elderly patients residing in long‐term care." |