scholarly journals Older people’s perceptions of the impact of Dance for Health sessions in an acute hospital setting: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e044027
Author(s):  
Hilary Bungay ◽  
Suzanne Hughes

ObjectivesTo explore the perceptions of hospitalised older people and their relatives of the impact of taking part in group dance sessions in an acute hospital setting.DesignA qualitative descriptive approach was used.SettingAn acute hospital trust in the East of England.ParticipantsPurposive sample of dance group participants.InterventionWeekly music and movement sessions for frail older people on Department of Elderly Medicine Wards and the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit. Sessions take place in the ward and are facilitated by a dance artist supported by ward staff.ResultsTwenty-one semistructured interviews were conducted with older people and/or their relatives. Thematic analysis of the data identified three overarching themes: (1) dance as a physical activity, (2) dance as an opportunity for social interaction and (3) the dance group as a source of emotional support. Sessions were valued as an enjoyable way to undertake physical activity and provided an opportunity for social interaction between patients. This is important as loneliness and boredom are a common occurrence during hospitalisation and are detrimental to overall health and well-being. Patients reported an emotional impact though taking part; happiness from engaging with the group and the release of pent up emotions through the triggering of memories by the music and conversations within the group.ConclusionDance for Health provides a range of physical, social and emotional benefits for hospitalised older people. Further research is required to investigate the effectiveness of group dance sessions in increasing physical activity on an acute ward and the potential psychological benefits for hospitalised older people.

2022 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-31
Author(s):  
Alison Blackburn

Long-term opioid use can begin with the treatment of acute pain. However, there is little evidence concerning the impact that better opioid awareness in the acute phase may have on reducing the use of opioids in the long term. This project explored which opioids are routinely prescribed within an acute hospital setting and how these opioids were used over the course of the hospital stay. Codeine and morphine remain the most commonly prescribed opioids. Opioids were prescribed and given to people across the age range, from 16 to 98 years. The project found that 19% of patients were admitted with a pre-existing opioid. Up to 66% of patients were discharged with opioid medication, with almost 20% leaving with more than one opioid. Regular opioid use routinely exposes patients to long-term opioid use and those patients initiated onto opioid medication during admission should have the benefit of planned de-escalation before discharge.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Chester Evans ◽  
Jennifer Bray ◽  
Claire Garabedian

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on an independent evaluation of a three-year “Creative Ageing” programme, focussing on the impacts for participants and factors promoting successful delivery of sessions. Design/methodology/approach Artists provided feedback through reflective journals and questionnaires, while the views of care staff and participants were also captured in a standard format at the end of each arts session. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data identified common themes. Findings Twenty-three arts projects were delivered across a range of settings and through diverse art forms including dance, drama, music, visual arts and poetry. They reached nearly 2,200 participants who recorded over 8,100 session attendances in total. Participation in high quality creative experiences improved well-being for older people, as well as increasing social interaction and reducing isolation. Several factors facilitated successful implementation and delivery of the activities, particularly the need to hold planning meetings with staff to provide guidance around participant numbers and suitability, minimising disruption of the sessions and the supportive role of staff during the sessions. Opportunities for reflection enabled artists to address potential challenges and adapt their practice to meet the needs and preferences of participants and to the complexities of diverse settings. Originality/value Previous research has largely focussed on the impact of activities in a single setting. This study supports the role of creative arts in increasing social interaction as an attempt to tackle isolation and loneliness, both for older people living in the community and for those living in a communal setting such as care homes and supported living schemes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 723-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rylee Dionigi

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived psychological benefits and explore the mechanisms underlying the link between exercise and psychological well-being for a group of older adults (65-72 years; 6 women; 4 men) who participated in a 12-week program of moderate-to-high intensity resistance training. They were interviewed in-depth at 1 week preintervention, 1 month after commencement, and 1 week after completion. The participants believed that resistance training enhanced their well-being, and they gave various physical, mental, and social reasons to explain this link. In particular, self-efficacy and social interaction were found to be key mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study exposed meaningful perceived improvements in psychological well-being that have not been uncovered in quantitative studies of healthy older people undertaking resistance training. The findings highlight the importance of using qualitative methods to enrich understandings of the positive effect of exercise on psychological well-being. The findings also have implications for designing effective resistance training interventions for older people.


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