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.
A two-arm randomized controlled study will be conducted to obtain within-group ratings of feasibility and acceptability, as well as between-group differences in drawing skills after training. In the drawing intervention, participants will learn and train drawing skills through exercises that target attention, perception, and visuospatial reasoning. In the active control condition, participants will navigate virtual art galleries. Both interventions will be completed remotely and at home. Participants will complete in-lab assessment sessions before and after the training. Each intervention consists of 6 weeks of training for up to 2 hours a week, including up to 1 hour of a self-guided lesson and prompted daily drawing practice adding up to 1 hour in the drawing intervention and 2 1-hour sessions of virtual gallery exploring per week in the arts appreciation intervention. The pre-test is administered within one week of the start of training and the post-test is administered within one week of training completion.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
50
* 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
* 6 weeks of online gallery browsing based on different topics * 2 hours of weekly activities consist of reading and navigating technology * Reflection writing
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
RECRUITINGAcceptability - 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
Feasibility - adherence
% of lessons that participants completed, from 0-6
Time frame: Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later
Feasibility - frequency
Frequency: times a week that participants completed training, 0-7 for days practiced each week
Time frame: Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later
Feasibility - attrition
Attrition reason: participants withdrawing will select from one of 5 options or 'other' to record the reason for withdrawing
Time frame: Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later
Change in Drawing skills
Participants will have 5 minutes to draw a photograph. Accuracy is scored using two methods: angle error at defined points of intersection and a rubric assessing accuracy on global and local features. Both ratings are averaged into a composite z-score, as well as looked at separately.
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Time frame: Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later
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
Change in Attention
A Rule switch task will measure set shifting. Participants will sort shapes by color or shape. Performance will be calculated as the response times on accurate switch trials.
Time frame: Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later
Change in Mindfulness
Participants complete a version Solloway Mindfulness Survey adapted to drawing. The questionnaire includes 30 questions on a 7-point scale on the degree to which engaging in drawing is related to different aspects of mindful attention.
Time frame: Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later
Change in Mental Wellbeing
Mental Wellbeing is assessed by the WEMWBS, which includes 14 questions on a 5 point scale about positive mental wellbeing.
Time frame: Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later