Clinical trial NCT04582370: Impact of Theater Experience on Older Adults Living in Retirement Communities
Official title: Impact of Theater Experience on Older Adults Living in Retirement Communities
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Aging
Keywords: Older adults
Theater
Physical functioning
Emotional stress
Lead sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-10-09
Enrollment: 84
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 62
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief 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.


Eligibility criteria: 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)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Timed Up-and-Go
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Timed Up-and-Go
timeFrame: immediately post-intervention
measure: Timed Up-and-Go
timeFrame: 3-month follow up
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form
timeFrame: immediately post-intervention
measure: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form
timeFrame: 3-month follow up
measure: 2-minute step test
timeFrame: baseline
measure: 2-minute step test
timeFrame: immediately post-intervention
measure: 2-minute step test
timeFrame: 3-month follow up
measure: 30-sec chair stand test
timeFrame: baseline
measure: 30-sec chair stand test
timeFrame: immediately post-intervention
measure: 30-sec chair stand test
timeFrame: 3-month follow up
measure: Berg Balance Scale
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Berg Balance Scale
timeFrame: immediately post-intervention
measure: Berg Balance Scale
timeFrame: 3-month follow up
measure: Grip strength
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Grip strength
timeFrame: immediately post-intervention
measure: Grip strength
timeFrame: 3-month follow up
measure: Emotional stress
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Emotional stress
timeFrame: immediately post-intervention
measure: Emotional stress
timeFrame: 3-month follow up
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Birmingham
country: United States
facility: University of Alabama at Birmingham
state: Alabama
city: Birmingham
country: United States
facility: University of Alabama at Birmingham
state: Alabama
Study officials:
References:
citation: Stanislavsky C. An Actor Prepares. New York: Routledge; 1989.