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Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols

Date Submitted: Sep 5, 2023
Date Accepted: Dec 24, 2023

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

An Individual Music Intervention for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities and Challenging Behavior: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Smeets G, Volkers K, Scherder E, Moonen X

An Individual Music Intervention for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities and Challenging Behavior: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

JMIR Res Protoc 2024;13:e52497

DOI: 10.2196/52497

PMID: 38324357

PMCID: 10882479

An individual music intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities and challenging behavior: a study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

  • Gerianne Smeets; 
  • Karin Volkers; 
  • Erik Scherder; 
  • Xavier Moonen

ABSTRACT

Background:

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more likely to have problems with executive functioning (EF) and challenging behavior (CB), which are negatively linked to well-being. Among clinical populations music interventions have been shown to improve various outcome measures, such as CB and EF. Until now no randomized controlled trials (RCT) have been conducted examining the effectiveness of an individual music intervention for adults with ID and CB.

Objective:

The study aims to identify the effect and feasibility of an individual music intervention compared to care-as-usual (CAU) for people with ID and CB.

Methods:

In this study a 2 -group RCT with a pre-test, post-test and follow-up assessment after 8 weeks is presented. Participants of the music intervention condition receive 16 individual music sessions within 8 to 10 weeks. The music intervention will be guided by a manual for music workers in which every session has a different focus (introduction, emotions, different EF and end performance). Participants receiving CAU will be functioning as a control group. After the research is finished they will be offered a budget, which they can spend on musical activities or musical instruments as they wish. All assessments include caregiver rating scales and self-report questionnaires and tests. The assessment includes CB, 3 domains of EF, self-esteem, well-being, anxiety and depression. A process evaluation will be conducted following completion of the study, which entails analysis of data on multiple aspects of the intervention and the study overall.

Results:

Enrolment commenced in July 2021 and data collection ended in May 2023. Data will be analyzed after this protocol has been accepted for publication.

Conclusions:

Since there are currently no published RCTs of an individual music intervention for adults with ID and CB, this study will provide insight into the effectiveness and experiences of an individual music intervention for this target group. Clinical Trial: International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (main ID #NL8482)


 Citation

Please cite as:

Smeets G, Volkers K, Scherder E, Moonen X

An Individual Music Intervention for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities and Challenging Behavior: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

JMIR Res Protoc 2024;13:e52497

DOI: 10.2196/52497

PMID: 38324357

PMCID: 10882479

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