The effect of music therapy on depression and physiological parameters in elderly people living in a Turkish nursing home: a randomized-controlled trial.
This study was carried out in an effort to determine the effect of music therapy on depression and physiological parameters in elderly people who were living in a nursing home.



The study was a randomized controlled trial. The study sample consisted of 64 elderly people who complied with the criteria of inclusion for the study. The data were collected using the 'Elderly Information Form' and 'Geriatric Depression Scale'. The music group listened to music three days in a week during 8 weeks. The depression levels were assessed at baseline (week 0) and follow-up in the eight week.



It was found that the difference between post-test depression scores of the two groups was found to be statistically significant (t = -2.86, p <.01). The mean scores of post-test systolic blood pressure in the music group were found to be significantly lower than those of the control group (t = -3.11, p < .05).



It was concluded that music therapy decreased the depression level and systolic blood pressure in elderly people. The study results implies that music therapy can be an effective practice for public health and home care nurses attempting to reduce depression and control physiological parameters of elderly people.
a Department of Public Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences , Ordu University , Ordu , Turkey.
Hacer
0000-0002-0371-0556
H
Gök Ugur
b Department of Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences , Giresun University , Giresun , Turkey.
Yeşim
0000-0001-7403-4949
Y
Yaman Aktaş
c Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Health Sciences , Ordu University , Ordu , Turkey.
Oya Sevcan
0000-0002-7499-5077
OS
Orak
d Music Department, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts , Ordu University , Ordu , Turkey.
Okan
0000-0001-6204-9860
O
Saglambilen
e Department of Public Health Nursing, Samsun School of Health , Ondokuz Mayıs University , Samsun , Turkey.
İlknur
0000-0001-5823-1117
İ
Aydin Avci
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014421:Turkey
Elderly people; depression; music therapy; nursing home; physiological parameters