Table 2.
Selected studies by purpose and method.
| Authors, Year | Country | Sample size | Study purpose | Research method | Intervention model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greaves and Farbus (2006) | UK | 172 participants at baseline; 72 at 6 months and 51 at 12 months | Evaluate a complex intervention for addressing social isolation in older people | Quant-qualitative | Upstream Healthy Living Centre with the use of mentors. A wide range of activities are provided: painting, print making, creative writing, tai chi, reminiscence, music |
| Qualitative tools | |||||
| – Semi-structured individual interview with 26 participants, 5 careers and 4 health professionals | |||||
| – Focus groups | |||||
| Quantitative measures used: Geriatric Depression Scale; SF12 Health Quality of Life; Medical Outcomes Social Support Scale | |||||
| Marmeleira et al. (2009) | Portugal | 37 older people (divided in experimental and a control group) | Investigate the effects of a creative dance program on proprioception of older adults | Quantitative, pre-post studio: (inter-group and intra-group analysis) | 12-week creative dance program (3 sessions of 90 min per week) |
| – knee proprioception assessed through JPS | |||||
| – kinesthesia assessed through Biodex System 2 12 weeks follow-up | |||||
| Pitkala et al. (2011) | Finland | 235 older people | Determine the effects of socially stimulating group intervention on cognition among older individuals suffering from loneliness | Quantitative/longitudinal (baseline-at three months-after one year) | (1) Art, inspiring activities and discussion, (2) Exercise and nature and discussion, (3) Therapeutic writing and discussion |
| – Charlson comorbidity index | |||||
| – MMSE | |||||
| – CDR | |||||
| – ADAS-Cog and HRQoL | |||||
| Alders Pike (2013) | Miami-Florida | 91 older adults | Examine the effect of 10-week AT intervention on the cognitive performance among a moderate size, ethnically diverse sample of older adults | Quantitative/pre-post test | Ad hoc designed AT protocol: 10-week intervention |
| – Clock Drawing Test (CDT) | |||||
| – Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) | |||||
| Stephenson (2013) | USA | 70 older people (Divided in groups of 10 to 15 participants) | Longitudinal evaluation of the CATS program over 6 years, in: | Qualitative assessment: shared discussion about the artwork created | Open, non-directive, AT studio (groups that met weekly for 2 h) |
| (1) foster artistic identity | |||||
| (2) activate a sense of purpose and motivation | |||||
| (3) use art as a bridge to connect with others | |||||
| (4) support movement toward the attainment of gerotranscendence | |||||
| Engelbrecht and Shoemark (2015) | Australia | 5 community-dwelling older women | Investigate the acceptability and efficacy of using iPads in music therapy intervention compared to traditional music instruments | Pre-post intervention | Music therapy mediated by technology: 5 60-min sessions of music therapy |
| Qualitative: – Journal entry (after each session) | |||||
| Quantitative: – Friendship scale − Rosenberg self-esteem scale | |||||
| Ilali et al. (2018) | USA | 54 older people | Evaluate the impact of a drawing-based life review program on reducing depression symptoms | Quantitative/longitudinal: experimental art group and control group demographic questionnaire, AMT screening tool and GDS questionnaire and 2 follow up (1 week later and 1 month later) | Six weekly sessions of the life review that is a specific AT intervention |
| Diaz Abrahan et al. (2019) | Argentina | 30 older people (divided in experimental group and control group) | Evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy in improving the quality of life of older adults | Quantitative: | Weekly 2-h music therapy meetings for a period of 8 months |
| – Questionnaire for socio-demographic data | |||||
| – IQoL (inventory of quality of life) | |||||
| – Extra-individual assessments by inventory | |||||
| McCarthy et al. (2019) | USA | 20 older women (with a normal score at Mini-Cog Dementia Test) divided by 2 groups of 10 | Evaluate participants’ experiences of PATH program and the meaning ascribed to those experiences | Qualitative: | Self-transcendence PATH program (8-week theory-based intervention) combining mindfulness exercises, group processes and creative projects reinforced by home practice |
| – Audiovisual recordings | |||||
| – Weekly group discussions and focus groups The data were coded using an inductive approach | |||||
| Poulos et al. (2019) | UK-Australia | 127 older people | Promote health and well-being. Evaluate the AOP model | Quant-qualitative/pre-posttest | AOP: participatory art program (weekly classes for 8–10 weeks) in which are involved healthcare practitioners and professional artists (visual arts, photography, drama, dance and movement, singing and music). |
| Quantitative measures: – WEMWBS – CAT: questionnaire for measure the perception of creativity (level and frequency) And measures of frailty with the criteria: unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity level, slow walking speed, weakness | |||||
| Qualitative tools (over the program period): – 8 focus groups involving 19 males and 29 female participants – 4 interviews with a predetermined list of questions (recorded and transcribed) | |||||
| Malyn et al. (2020) | UK | 20 older people | Develop a deeper understanding of the therapeutic mechanism occurring within creative writing groups | Qualitative: thematic analysis of semi-structured individual interviews lasting 40 min and audio-recorded | Creative writing and bibliotherapy |
| Schoales et al. (2020) | Canada | 10 older people | Examine wellbeing among older adults while exploring the effects of engaging in a creative digital storytelling workshop | Qualitative: one-on-one semi-structured interviews that last from 30 to 90 min, interpretive phenomenological inquiry | Creative digital 3-day storytelling workshop |