Dementia and Imagination: a mixed-methods protocol for arts and science research.
Dementia and Imagination is a multidisciplinary research collaboration bringing together arts and science to address current evidence limitations around the benefits of visual art activities in dementia care. The research questions ask: Can art improve quality of life and well-being? If it does make a difference, how does it do this-and why? Does it have wider social and community benefits?



This mixed-methods study recruits participants from residential care homes, National Health Service (NHS) wards and communities in England and Wales. A visual art intervention is developed and delivered as 1×2-hour weekly group session for 3 months in care and community settings to N=100 people living with dementia. Quantitative and qualitative data are collected at 3 time points to examine the impact on their quality of life, and the perceptions of those who care for them (N=100 family and professional carers). Repeated-measures systematic observations of well-being are obtained during the intervention (intervention vs control condition). The health economics component conducts a social return on investment evaluation of the intervention. Qualitative data are collected at 3 time points (n=35 carers/staff and n=35 people living with dementia) to explore changes in social connectedness. Self-reported outcomes of the intervention delivery are obtained (n=100). Focus groups with intervention participants (n=40) explore perceptions of impact. Social network analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from arts and healthcare professionals (N=100) examines changes in perceptions and practice.



The study is approved by North Wales Research Ethics Committee-West. A range of activities will share the research findings, including international and national academic conferences, quarterly newsletters and the project website. Public engagement projects will target a broad range of stakeholders. Policy and practice summaries will be developed. The visual art intervention protocol will be developed as a freely available practitioners guide.
Dementia Services Development Centre, School of Healthcare Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Gill
G
Windle
International Centre for Media, Culture and Heritage, School of Arts and Cultures, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Andrew
A
Newman
Department of Gerontology, Centre for Innovative Ageing, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
Vanessa
V
Burholt
Dementia Services Development Centre, School of Healthcare Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Bob
B
Woods
Cultural Policy, Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Goldsmiths University, London, UK.
Dave
D
O'Brien
Age Watch, London, UK.
Michael
M
Baber
Biostatistics Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK.
Barry
B
Hounsome
Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
Clive
C
Parkinson
University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Victoria
V
Tischler
D001155:Art Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003704:Dementia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004739:England; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D060756:Social Networking; D014852:Wales
arts and health; mixed-methods; multi-disciplinary; quality of life