General Appraisal Overview (GAO) for All Studies*

Date: 3/3/20
Reviewer: Heather Cunningham, RN
Article citation (APA): Cox, E., Nowak, M., & Buettner, P. (2011). Managing
agitated behaviour in people with Alzheimer’s disease: the role of live music.
British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(11), 517-524.
https://doi.org/10.4276/030802211X13204135680866
PICOT Question: : In patients with Alzheimer’s disease (P), does the
implementation of music therapy (I) compared to no music therapy (C) affect the
patients behavioral and psychological symptoms (O)?
Purpose of Study: The purpose of this study is to determine the affect of music
therapy on agitated behavior in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s
disease.

Research Method (Indicate):

 Mixed
Study Design as is Interpreted by the Student (keep in mind that the way
authors may state the design may not accurately reflect the actual design of the
study):
 Quasi-experimental

Research question(s) or hypotheses (actual or implied): Will the use of live, one-
on-one violin musical therapy have an effect on agitation in patients with
Alzheimer’s disease?

Sampling Technique: In Townsville, Queensland, medical records were obtained

for patients in dementia-specific units of a private residential care facility after
receiving approval from the Townsville Health Service District and the facility.
Participants were selected based upon inclusion criteria, and consent was
obtained from the power of attorney.

Sample Size: 7 participants

Sample Inclusion Criteria:

 Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia charted in their medical records
 Score of less than or equal to 19/30 on the Mini Mental State Exam
 Had no medication changes in the past 3 months
 Lived in the current environment for at least 4 weeks
  Had no auditory or visual deficits that could impact functional hearing or
vision
 Had agitated behavior at least 3 times within the course of a week during
the previous 4 weeks
 Had not started any new therapy or interventions that could affect their
behavior within the last 4 weeks
Variables:
 Independent variable(s): Live, one-to-one, musical violin intervention

 Dependent (outcome) variable(s): agitation in Alzheimer’s patients

 Research variables (may see in purely descriptive or correlational

studies that do not have independent or dependent variables): N/A

 Phenomenon/Phenomena (seen in qualitative research): N/A

Variable Analysis Used (in Quantitative studies)

This is a list of the statistical tests that are typically described under the Data
Analysis section of the article; they are used to analyze the data.
 Paired Friedman test

Statistics: For each variable analysis listed above, look up the stated statistical
test(s) and write a brief description in your own words of what the test
measures. Please include a reference. If from Polit & Beck, 2017, you can just
put (P & B, p. xx). You may also use Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt and put (EBP,
Year, p. xx).

 The Friedman test is a non-parametric statistical test that identifies

changes in treatments across numerous test attempts.

Knowing the definitions of the statistics used, indicate if the methods used to
analyze the data [types of statistics, thematic analysis, etc.]) were appropriate
to answer research questions/hypothesis or to discover themes):

 The Friedman test was appropriate for use in this study. The study assessed
pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention periods.
  Inferential (typically for hypothesis testing)
o Non-parametric *
o Parametric

Phenomena Analysis Used (in Qualitative studies)

These are the methods used to analyze the qualitative data (for example,
thematic analysis)

N/A