Impact of Theater Experience on Older Adults Living in Retirement Communities

Aging Clinical Trial

Official title:

Impact of Theater Experience on Older Adults Living in Retirement Communities

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04582370
• Other study ID #: 000526106
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 4, 2021
• Est. completion date: April 17, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: December 2023
• Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Theater is a complex, multi-component performing art. On stage, actors not only need to memorize the script, but also be able to portray emotion and feeling through movement and move in whichever manner is deemed appropriate by the script. Acting therefore requires as much movement as it does vocalization. As training exercises in theater naturally involve boosting physical, cognitive and affective function, and social relationships, theater experience can be used to promote health and wellness. Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the use of theater to promote health and wellness among older adults.

Thus, the overall aim of this project is to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of a 10-week theory-based theater program on physical functioning and emotional stress among older adults.

Hypothesis #1: Older adults residing in subsidized housing who participate in a theory-based theater program will demonstrate better physical functioning, and reduction in emotional stress than wait-list controls at the conclusion of a 10-week theater program.

Hypothesis #2: The positive impact of the theater program on the residents' improved physical functioning and stress level will be maintained at 3-month follow-up.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 84
• Est. completion date: April 17, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: April 17, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 62 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 62 or older living in HUD-subsidized housing

2. Residence in a subsidized apartment for at least one year.

3. Able to carry on a daily conversation with or without hearing aids

4. Intact cognition as indicated by a score of greater than 5 on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ)

5. Ambulatory with or without aids, as the outcome measures require participants to perform static and dynamic balance, and walking activities.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Visual impairment that cannot be corrected with assistive devices

2. Diagnosis of progressive neurodegenerative disorders (self-report)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aging

Intervention

Behavioral:
• theater program
10-week theory-based theater program designed to improve their physical functioning and reduce emotional stress.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Alabama at Birmingham	Birmingham	Alabama
United States	University of Alabama at Birmingham	Birmingham	Alabama

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (1)

Stanislavsky C. An Actor Prepares. New York: Routledge; 1989.

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Timed Up-and-Go	The "timed Up-and-Go" (TUG) is a composite measure of functional mobility, including lower extremity power, balance, gait, and fall risk. Measured in absolute time (seconds), where lower time is a better score.	baseline
Primary	Timed Up-and-Go	The "timed Up-and-Go" (TUG) is a composite measure of functional mobility, including lower extremity power, balance, gait, and fall risk. Measured in absolute time (seconds), where lower time is a better score.	immediately post-intervention
Primary	Timed Up-and-Go	The "timed Up-and-Go" (TUG) is a composite measure of functional mobility, including lower extremity power, balance, gait, and fall risk. Measured in absolute time (seconds), where lower time is a better score.	3-month follow up
Secondary	Medical Outcomes Study Short Form	The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, version 2 (SF-36v2) is a 36 item patient reported outcome measure of health-related quality of life in 8 different domains. Scores range from 0 to 100, with high scores indicating more positive health.	baseline
Secondary	Medical Outcomes Study Short Form	The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, version 2 (SF-36v2) is a 36 item patient reported outcome measure of health-related quality of life in 8 different domains. Scores range from 0 to 100, with high scores indicating more positive health.	immediately post-intervention
Secondary	Medical Outcomes Study Short Form	The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, version 2 (SF-36v2) is a 36 item patient reported outcome measure of health-related quality of life in 8 different domains. Scores range from 0 to 100, with high scores indicating more positive health.	3-month follow up
Secondary	2-minute step test	The 2-minute step test (TMST) is a field test of exercise tolerance where the participant steps in place for 2 min. The higher the number repetition indicates better performance.	baseline
Secondary	2-minute step test	The 2-minute step test (TMST) is a field test of exercise tolerance where the participant steps in place for 2 min. The higher the number repetition indicates better performance.	immediately post-intervention
Secondary	2-minute step test	The 2-minute step test (TMST) is a field test of exercise tolerance where the participant steps in place for 2 min. The higher the number repetition indicates better performance.	3-month follow up
Secondary	30-sec chair stand test	The 30-sec chair stand test (30CST) is a measure of lower extremity power and functional mobility. The participant stands up from a chair and sits back down as many times as possible in 30 sec. The higher the number repetition indicates better performance.	baseline
Secondary	30-sec chair stand test	The 30-sec chair stand test (30CST) is a measure of lower extremity power and functional mobility. The participant stands up from a chair and sits back down as many times as possible in 30 sec. The higher the number repetition indicates better performance.	immediately post-intervention
Secondary	30-sec chair stand test	The 30-sec chair stand test (30CST) is a measure of lower extremity power and functional mobility. The participant stands up from a chair and sits back down as many times as possible in 30 sec. The higher the number repetition indicates better performance.	3-month follow up
Secondary	Berg Balance Scale	The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a 14-iten test that measures function mobility and balance. Scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating better balance.	baseline
Secondary	Berg Balance Scale	The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a 14-iten test that measures function mobility and balance. Scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating better balance.	immediately post-intervention
Secondary	Berg Balance Scale	The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a 14-iten test that measures function mobility and balance. Scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating better balance.	3-month follow up
Secondary	Grip strength	Hand-grip strength is a quantitative measure of upper extremity strength. Higher values indicated more strength.	baseline
Secondary	Grip strength	Hand-grip strength is a quantitative measure of upper extremity strength. Higher values indicated more strength.	immediately post-intervention
Secondary	Grip strength	Hand-grip strength is a quantitative measure of upper extremity strength. Higher values indicated more strength.	3-month follow up
Secondary	Emotional stress	Emotional stress will be assessed via cortisol levels obtained from hair samples analyzed via immunoassay. Typical values range from 2 to 200 pg/mg, with higher levels indicating higher chronic stress.	baseline
Secondary	Emotional stress	Emotional stress will be assessed via cortisol levels obtained from hair samples analyzed via immunoassay. Typical values range from 2 to 200 pg/mg, with higher levels indicating higher chronic stress.	immediately post-intervention
Secondary	Emotional stress	Emotional stress will be assessed via cortisol levels obtained from hair samples analyzed via immunoassay. Typical values range from 2 to 200 pg/mg, with higher levels indicating higher chronic stress.	3-month follow up