Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Box 356420, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195, United States.
Department of Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Informatics, University of Washington School of Nursing, Box 357266, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195, United States.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2018 May-Jun;76:138-146. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2018.02.012. Epub 2018 Feb 23.
Participating in a group-singing program may be beneficial to healthy aging through engaging in active music-making activities and breathing exercises. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a 12-week group singing program on cognitive function, lung health and quality of life (QoL) of older adults.
A pre and post-test quasi-experimental design evaluated the impact of a group-singing program on older adult health. The intervention consisted of pre-singing exercises, song-singing and learning, and socialization. Classes were 75 min/week for 12 weeks. Inclusion criteria were age ≥60, no self-reported diagnosis of dementia, and able to hear conversations within 2 feet. Participants were recruited from 3 senior living communities. Outcome measures included cognition, lung function, QoL, and program feasibility and acceptability. A paired t-test with 2-sided alpha level at 0.05 was used to test the null hypotheses.
We enrolled 49 participants (mean age 83.6). Forty-two (86%) completed the posttests and exit survey. At the 12th week there was significant improvement in phonological (p < 0.0001) and animal (p = 0.0004) semantic Verbal Fluency Tests, immediate Word Recall Test (p < 0.0001), Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (p = 0.0001), Maximum Expiratory Pressure (p < 0.0001), and in-session oxygen saturation (p = 0.03). Program satisfaction was rated, on average, 9 on a 10-point scale.
A group-singing program with deep breathing training and song-learning may promote memory, language, speech information processing, executive function, and respiratory muscle strength in older adults. The program was feasible and well-accepted. A clinical trial with a larger sample is indicated.
通过参与集体歌唱活动和呼吸练习，参与团体歌唱计划可能有益于健康老龄化。本研究的目的是评估为期 12 周的团体歌唱计划对老年人认知功能、肺健康和生活质量（QoL）的可行性、可接受性和影响。
采用前后测试准实验设计评估团体歌唱计划对老年人健康的影响。干预措施包括唱歌前的练习、唱歌和学习以及社交。每周上课 75 分钟，为期 12 周。纳入标准为年龄≥60 岁，无痴呆自我报告诊断，且在 2 英尺内能听到对话。参与者从 3 个老年生活社区招募。结果测量包括认知、肺功能、QoL 以及计划的可行性和可接受性。采用双侧 α 水平为 0.05 的配对 t 检验来检验零假设。
我们共招募了 49 名参与者（平均年龄 83.6 岁）。42 名（86%）完成了后测和退出调查。在第 12 周，语音（p<0.0001）和动物（p=0.0004）语义流畅性测试、即时单词回忆测试（p<0.0001）、最大吸气压力（p=0.0001）、最大呼气压力（p<0.0001）和会话中的血氧饱和度（p=0.03）均有显著改善。歌唱计划的满意度平均评分为 10 分制的 9 分。
有深呼吸训练和歌曲学习的团体歌唱计划可能会促进老年人的记忆、语言、言语信息处理、执行功能和呼吸肌力量。该计划是可行且可接受的。需要进行更大样本量的临床试验。
