National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences

Research Design This study adopted randomized clinical trials design, with two groups of pre-tests and post-tests, a single-blind test, a single-blind test, and intentional sampling. Four well-organized community care centers with the proper number of elderly people and the willingness to participate in Taipei City were selected to carry out the pre-test to screen out the qualified research subjects, and then, they were randomly assigned to the experimental group or control group. The experimental group received music therapy and routine activities, while the control group only received routine activities, and the researchers were the leaders of the music therapy activities. Data collection and fitness testing were performed by trained, certified, and qualified personnel. Before program implementation, a consensus meeting on testing consistency was conducted for the testers to obtain consistency in testing technology and scale questionnaires. The researchers were not involved in the testing, in order to ensure the independent position and blindness of the fitness testers. The study intervention was conducted for 12 weeks, once a week, 90 minutes each time. In the 13th week, the two groups performed the first post-test, while the second post-test was in the 16th week. Research Structure The independent variables include demographic data, and one or more of the five indicators of disease state and physical status decline. The intervention measures include various music therapy activities, and the dependent variables are the performance indicators including: frailty indicators (BMI, grip strength, 2.44 meters of timed get-up-and-go, 30 seconds of sit-to-stand, 2 minutes of knee bending and leg raising), physical activity, conscious health status, and depression. This study explores the effectiveness of music therapy in improving the physical fitness, degree of activity, and depression of elderly in the community.