The effect of a tailored dance program on health and wellbeing in people aged 65+: a pilot trial

INTERVENTION: We are testing the feasibility, acceptability and impact of a tailored dance program for supporting health and wellbeing in people aged 65+. Forty people aged 65 and over will be enrolled in the trial once they have been recruited and screened for eligibility. Twenty participants randomised to the intervention group will take part in a 10‐week, twice‐weekly group‐based program of dance classes, each 1 hour and 15 minutes in duration. The classes will be delivered by dance instructors with more than 5 years training and experience in teaching dance to older people. A dance class will have a maximum of 20 participants. Each class will be performed to music, using jazz/contemporary dance styles and dance routines will be tailored for the individual. Tailoring for the individual will occur within each class based on the instructor’s initial and ongoing observations of the physical capability of each participant. The instructor will provide different levels of difficulty for each of the steps in a routine, for example, a dance done in standing and using the arms may have the option of a wide leg stance, a narrower stance or single leg balance. Another example is when a dance involves repeated sit to stand movements from a chair, 3 different heights of chairs are offered. Participants will be encouraged to choose the version that challenges them but to report any issues to the instructor. Routines will increase in length and complexity across the weeks, but always with more basic options offered. A person‐centred, relational approach will underpin the program, with the intention of developing trust and a sense of safety between the teacher and participants. The sessions will challenge cognition through learning, recalling, imagining, coordinating, multi‐tasking and creati CONDITION: falls;mental wellbeing;quality of life;social isolation;balance impairment;physical inactivity;fall risk;cognitive impairment; ; falls ; mental wellbeing ; quality of life ; social isolation ; balance impairment ; physical inactivity ; fall risk ; cognitive impairment Injuries and Accidents ‐ Other injuries and accidents Mental Health ‐ Depression Mental Health ‐ Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation ‐ Other physical medicine / rehabilitation INCLUSION CRITERIA: Eligible participants will be community‐dwelling people aged 65+ who are able to travel to the dance class location and must not have participated in any dance classes in the past 12 months. Participants must be independently mobile (able to walk 10 metres unaided) but be relatively inactive (less than 90 minutes per week of moderate physical activity). PRIMARY OUTCOME: Acceptability of the trial methods[ All participants will be asked to respond to 5 questions about the study procedures. The first 4 are based on a 5‐point Likert scale where answers can range from strongly agree to strongly disagree:; 1. I was satisfied with the randomisation process of the trial.; 2. I was satisfied with the way the assessment data was collected; 3. The amount of time taken to complete the questionnaire and physical assessments was acceptable to me; 4. The number of times I was assessed was acceptable to me.; ; In addition, they will all be asked one question where the possible answers are yes/no/unsure:; Would you recommend the study procedures used in this program to other people aged 65+? (this includes things like the randomisation and assessment process and organisation); These questions will be asked at the post‐intervention assessment (week 10). For those in the intervention group, this will be commensurate with when they finish the intervention. For those in the wait‐list control group, this will be commensurate with the end of their 10‐week waiting period (before they receive the intervention). ; ] The primary outcome is acceptability of the intervention. [Acceptability of the intervention will be operationalised by the participants response to the global question “Would you recommend the tailored dance program to other people aged 65+?” ; These questions will be asked at the post‐intervention assessment (week 10). For those in the intervention group, this will be commensurate with when they finish the intervention. For those in the wait‐list control group, this will be commensurate with the end of their 10‐week waiting period (before they receive the intervention). ; ] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Balance self confidence[Activity Specific Balance Scale Self‐administered survey completed at baseline and again after 10 weeks for both the intervention and waitlist control groups. A further round of this data will be collected from the waitlist control group when they finish the 10‐week dance program.] Dance self‐efficacy[Task‐based Dance Self‐Efficacy Measure (validated scale modified for this research) Self‐administered survey completed at baseline and again after 10 weeks for both the intervention and waitlist control groups. A further round of this data will be collected from the waitlist control group when they finish the 10‐week dance program.] Feasibility of study methods and intervention design will be measured for both the intervention and waitlist controls. [1. rate of recruitment, assessed by proportion of people who were screened, that were deemed eligible and then consented to participation ; 2. reach, assessed by the representation of sociodemographic characteristics of people screened and who consented ; 3. the mode by which people heard about the study. ; 4. retention of participants at follow up, assessed by number of participants who withdrew consent or participation. ; 5. adverse events (such as falls or other unwanted or unintended outcomes) (as reported by the instructors and by participants health diary) ; 6. completeness of survey questionnaire and physical assessment data. Feasibility will be evaluated upon completion of the study using process indicators gathered during the recruitment period and the study records from the participants and teachers, kept by the research assistant. ] Memory[Rey auditory verbal learning test Physical assessment data will be collected by a trained research assistant blinded to the participant group allocation and will be completed at baseline and again after 10 weeks for both the intervention and waitlist control groups. A further round of this data will be collected from the waitlist control group when they finish the 10‐week dance program.] Mental wellbeing[Warwick‐Edinburgh Mental Well‐being Scale Self‐administered survey completed at baseline and again after 10 weeks for both the intervention and waitlist control groups. A further round of this data will be collected from the waitlist control group when they finish the 10‐week dance program.] Physical activity[Incidental and Planned Exercise Questionnaire Self‐administered survey completed at baseline and again after 10 weeks for both the intervention and waitlist control groups. A further round of this data will be collected from the waitlist control group when they finish the 10‐week dance program.] Physical fall risk factors[Short Physical Performance Battery Test Physical assessment data will be collected by a trained research assistant blinded to the participant group allocation and will be completed at baseline and again after 10 weeks for both the intervention and waitlist control groups. A further round of this data will be collected from the waitlist control group when they finish the 10‐week dance program.] Quality of life[EuroQuol 5D5L Self‐administered survey completed at baseline and again after 10 weeks for both the intervention and waitlist control groups. A further round of this data will be collected from the waitlist control group when they finish the 10‐week dance program.] Social network scale[Lubben Social Network Scale Self‐administered survey completed at baseline and again after 10 weeks for both the intervention and waitlist control groups. A further round of this data will be collected from the waitlist control group when they finish the 10‐week dance program.]