Visual Arts Interventions With Older Adults

ConditionFeasibility Study

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age55-85

SponsorNortheastern University

About this trial

The present study investigates the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a novel visual arts-based intervention in an older adult population. In a randomized controlled design, two arts-based interventions will be evaluated with a group of 50 participants.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

55-85 years of age

Able to understand and speak English and follow study procedures

Does not have a psychological or neurological condition that would prevent from being able to give consent to participate

Less than 2 years of formal visual arts training

Disqualifiers

Formal diagnosis of dementia or other neurological disease, including Mild Cognitive Impairment

A final score below 17 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment - Blind (phone) version

Abnormal visual acuity prohibitive of tablet-based training

Physical handicap (motor or perceptual) that would impede training procedures

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

Training in observational drawing
Behavioral
* 6 weeks of online gallery browsing based on different topics * Daily practice drawing from observation with training adding up to 1 hour a week * Documenting progress and reflection writing
Arts engagement through digital galleries
Behavioral
* 6 weeks of online gallery browsing based on different topics * 2 hours of weekly activities consist of reading and navigating technology * Reflection writing

Treatment groups

50 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: Participatory ArtsExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Group B: Receptive ArtsActive comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Acceptability - clarity

Perceived clarity on the course content, likert scale 1-5

Time frame

Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later

Acceptability - engagement

Level of engagement with the course materials, likert scale 1-5

Time frame

Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later

Acceptability - value

Perceived value of the course content, likert scale 1-5

Time frame

Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later

Feasibility - completion rate

% of participants who completed both testing sessions

Time frame

Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later

Secondary outcomes

Change in Perception - contour integration

Participants tap on circles of aligned Gabors embedded in a scene of randomly oriented Gabors. A circle will be present for 3 seconds and switch to the next trial if it is not seen. Number of circles spotted, reaction times on spotted circle, and lowest level of alignment will be recorded. Z-scores will be calculated.

Time frame

Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later

Change in Perception - visual disembedding

Participants search for a target shape in 3 complex gestalts of overlapping shapes. Participants select the complex shape containing the target. Response times and accuracy are measured. Z-scores will be calculated.

Time frame

Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later

Change in Visuospatial Reasoning - construction and memory

Complex Figures Copy and Recall will assess visuospatial construction and memory (10 min). Participants will complete three sets of drawing complex shapes from observation and memory after a block of word learning. Accuracy will be scored using a validated rubric.

Time frame

Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later

Change in Visuospatial Reasoning - mental transformation

3D Mental Rotation (3 min) will test mental transformation. Participants will be briefly shown two figures and asked to determine whether the figures are the same or mirror reversed. Mean and SD reaction time per angular disparity and errors per angular disparity will be extracted.

Time frame

Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later

Other outcomes

Daily progress log

Participants will record the time spent and the content practiced during their sessions. The survey includes selecting all the choices that apply, questions on a likert scale, and short response questions.

Time frame

After every training session (weeks 1-6 of training, up to 7 times a week)

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Northeastern University

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

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