Tai Chi with music improves quality of life among community-dwelling older persons with mild to moderate depressive symptoms: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Author: Liao SJ1, Chong MC2, Tan MP3, Chua YP4
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Ya'an Polytechnic College, 130 Yucai Road, Yucheng District, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, China. <sup>2</sup>Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: mcchong@um.edu.my. <sup>3</sup>Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Ageing and Age-Associated Disorders Research Group, Wellness Research Cluster, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. <sup>4</sup>Institute of Educational Leadership, Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Conference/Journal: Geriatr Nurs.
Date published: 2018 Aug 30
Other: Pages: S0197-4572(18)30272-6 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.08.001. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 157


Depression leads to a poorer quality of life (QOL) which is a determinant of healthy ageing. Cost-effective solutions for enhancing QOL in the older population are much needed in China, with its rapidly ageing population. We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 112 community-dwelling older participants with mild to moderate depression, to evaluate the effect of Tai Chi with music on QOL (57 in intervention group, 55 in control group). WHO Quality of Life-BREF was used to measure QOL at baseline and at every month for three months. Following the adjustments for sociodemographic data, the effect of intervention on QOL was assured (F = 25.145, P < 0.001, ηp2= 0.435, F = 18.696, P < 0.001, ηp2= 0.364, F = 17.473, P< 0.001, ηp2= 0.348, and F = 29.576, P < 0.001, ηp2= 0.475 for physical, psychological, social, and environment domains respectively). This intervention represents an economically viable solution to better QOL and healthy ageing in a highly populous developing nation.

KEYWORDS: Depression; Music; Older persons; Quality of life; Tai Chi

PMID: 30173939 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.08.001