Dementia and Imagination: a mixed-methods protocol for arts and science research

• Published in: BMJ open 2016-11, Vol.6 (11), p.e011634-e011634
• Main Authors: Windle, Gill, Newman, Andrew, Burholt, Vanessa, Woods, Bob, O'Brien, Dave, Baber, Michael, Hounsome, Barry, Parkinson, Clive, Tischler, Victoria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Art Therapy - economics; Art Therapy - methods; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Data collection; Dementia; Dementia - rehabilitation; England; Focus Groups; Health services; Health Services Research; Humanities; Humans; Imagination; Internet resources; Intervention; Interviews as Topic; Qualitative Research; Quality of Life; Research Design; Science; Social Networking; Social sciences; Studies; Wales
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011634

IntroductionDementia and Imagination is a multidisciplinary research collaboration bringing together arts and science to address current evidence limitations around the benefits of visual art activities in dementia care. The research questions ask: Can art improve quality of life and well-being? If it does make a difference, how does it do this—and why? Does it have wider social and community benefits?Methods and analysisThis mixed-methods study recruits participants from residential care homes, National Health Service (NHS) wards and communities in England and Wales. A visual art intervention is developed and delivered as 1×2-hour weekly group session for 3 months in care and community settings to N=100 people living with dementia. Quantitative and qualitative data are collected at 3 time points to examine the impact on their quality of life, and the perceptions of those who care for them (N=100 family and professional carers). Repeated-measures systematic observations of well-being are obtained during the intervention (intervention vs control condition). The health economics component conducts a social return on investment evaluation of the intervention. Qualitative data are collected at 3 time points (n=35 carers/staff and n=35 people living with dementia) to explore changes in social connectedness. Self-reported outcomes of the intervention delivery are obtained (n=100). Focus groups with intervention participants (n=40) explore perceptions of impact. Social network analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from arts and healthcare professionals (N=100) examines changes in perceptions and practice.Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by North Wales Research Ethics Committee—West. A range of activities will share the research findings, including international and national academic conferences, quarterly newsletters and the project website. Public engagement projects will target a broad range of stakeholders. Policy and practice summaries will be developed. The visual art intervention protocol will be developed as a freely available practitioners guide.