Conducting randomized controlled trials with older people with dementia in long-term care: Challenges and lessons learnt
Jenny Murfield BSc Hons
Research Development Coordinator, Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, and Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Marie Cooke RN DipAppSc BAppSc MSPD PhD
Professor and Deputy Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, and Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Marie Cooke, School of Nursing and Midwifery Nathan, Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorWendy Moyle RN DipAppSc BN MHSc PhD
Professor and Director of Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, and Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorDavid Shum BA BAHons PhD
Professor and Deputy Director of Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research and School of Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorScott Harrison BMusEd GradDipMus LMusA LTCL MMus MHEd PhD
Lecturer Music and Music Education, School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorJenny Murfield BSc Hons
Research Development Coordinator, Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, and Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Marie Cooke RN DipAppSc BAppSc MSPD PhD
Professor and Deputy Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, and Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Marie Cooke, School of Nursing and Midwifery Nathan, Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorWendy Moyle RN DipAppSc BN MHSc PhD
Professor and Director of Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, and Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorDavid Shum BA BAHons PhD
Professor and Deputy Director of Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research and School of Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorScott Harrison BMusEd GradDipMus LMusA LTCL MMus MHEd PhD
Lecturer Music and Music Education, School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Murfield J, Cooke M, Moyle W, Shum D, Harrison S. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2011; 17: 52–59
Conducting randomized controlled trials with older people with dementia in long-term care: Challenges and lessons learnt
The characteristics of older people with dementia and the long-term care environment can make conducting research a challenge and, as such, this population and setting are often understudied, particularly in terms of clinical or randomized controlled trials. This paper provides a critical discussion of some of the difficulties faced whilst implementing a randomized controlled trial exploring the effect of a live music programme on the behaviour of older people with dementia in long-term care. A discussion of how these challenges were addressed is presented to aid investigators planning the design of similar research and help encourage a proactive approach in dealing with research-related challenges right from project conception. The article is structured according to the three principles of a randomized controlled trial in order to keep experimental rigour at the forefront of this research area.
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