Background Music attuned technology – care via eHealth (MATCH) supports caregivers to use music-based strategies to enhance the care of people with dementia. It comprises a mobile app with an embedded training programme co-designed by music therapy experts and service users. This article presents findings from the first MATCH trial in the community. Methods Thirteen dyads (caregivers and care-recipients) trialled MATCH in an 8-week pre-post single-arm proof-of-concept study. We evaluated the acceptability (Acceptability E-Scale (AES)) and usability (System Usability Scale (SUS)) of MATCH, knowledge gain (Knowledge Assessment), and preliminary effects of MATCH strategies on mood and agitation (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q); Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI)). Caregivers also completed weekly check-in interviews and maintained a paper diary, where they reported their use of MATCH (adherence) and any perceived effects; this data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results Participants found MATCH acceptable (combined AES median score of 28, range 25–34) and useful (SUS median score of 73.5, range 55–100). NPI-Q scores showed a reduction in the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia (median change: −5, 95% confidence interval (CI): −9, 0) and associated caregiver distress reduction (median change: −7, 95% CI: −13, 0). Qualitative findings revealed overall positive impacts of MATCH, including perceived benefits for mood, cognition, engagement and connectedness, easing personal care, and reducing agitation and caregiver stress. Additionally, findings highlighted barriers, enablers, and instances where MATCH was less helpful. Conclusion MATCH has the potential to help people with dementia and caregivers develop new music-based routines that can support wellbeing and connectedness and reduce distress.
Thompson et al. (Thu,) studied this question.