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A pilot usability study of MINWii, a music therapy game for demented patients

Authors

Boulay, Mélodie, Benveniste, Samuel, Boespflug, Sandra, Jouvelot, Pierre, Rigaud, Anne-Sophie

Journal

Technology And Health Care: Official Journal Of The European Society For Engineering And Medicine, Volume: 19, No.: 4, Pages.: 233-246

Year of Publication

2011

Abstract

MINWii is a music therapy game for the renarcissization of demented patients. It lets players improvise or play songs of their choice by pointing at a virtual keyboard with a Wiimote Pistol. We present the results of a three-month usability study we conducted with 7 institutionalized patients suffering from mild to moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease at the LUSAGE Living Lab in Paris. We demonstrate that MINWii is indeed usable by AD patients despite their motor and cognitive impairments: our results, which were largely computed automatically thanks to MINWii’s extensive logging capabilities, show either an instant mastery or a clear learning effect depending on patients’ cognitive abilities. Moreover, patients were overall very satisfied with the game and expressed a desire to repeat the experience: MINWii fosters positive interaction with the caregivers and elicits powerful reminiscence with even the most severely impaired patients. This study justifies future research to assess the lasting effects of playing MINWii on both quality of life and cognitive impairment in demented patients.;

Keywords

aged, aged, 80 and over, alzheimer disease, female, humans, male, minwii, music therapy, paris, quality of life, therapy, usability, video games

Countries of Study

France

Types of Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease

Types of Study

Before and After Study

Type of Outcomes

Cognition, Other, Satisfaction with care/services

Settings

Long Term Residential Care without medically trained staff, Nursing Homes

Type of Interventions

Non-pharmacological Treatment, Technology (telephone, telecare, telehealth, robots, GPS)

Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

Arts and Music Interventions (including Art and Music Therapy)