Study designs of evaluations included in the review
The inclusion criteria were not defined in terms of the study design. The included studies were of experimental (patients randomly assigned to no music or preferred music for 2 weeks then crossed over to the alternative treatment) or quasi-experimental (repeated measures, with some studies randomly selecting the sequence of music and no music) designs and case reports.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies of music therapy were eligible for inclusion. The included studies used a variety of music, such as quiet, popular, relaxing and stimulating music, and individual preferred music. The studies played music at different times: bath time, dinner time, lunch time and as background music. The music was played to groups and individuals. Most of the studies used music for short time periods (30 to 45 minutes per session). The sessions were conducted three times daily to twice weekly and for 2 to 12 weeks (12 weeks in the tables, 11 weeks in the text). The studies were conducted in different settings including hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care and day care units. Four studies used background music and three studies used patient preferred music.
Participants included in the review
Studies of preferably elderly people with dementia were eligible for inclusion. All the included studies were of institutionalised patients, aged 55 to 99 years, with dementia or Alzheimer's dementia and with severe cognitive impairment. The cognitive function of the participants varied: the scores on the Mini Mental State Examination ranged from 0 to 22.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The inclusion criteria were not defined in terms of the outcomes. The review assessed agitated behaviour. The included studies assessed agitation using the following methods; three observers counted agitated behaviour; a trained research assistant used an aggressive behaviour checklist; one or an unstated number of observers used the modified Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory; and observation of behaviour change.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The author did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.