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From Page to Stage: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Dramatic Reading Workshops in Older Adults Living with
Pauline Simon1, Nicole Cantisano1, Christine-Vanessa Cuervo-Lombard1
1Laboratoire CERPPS (Centre d'Études et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé), Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France.
Objectives:
The high prevalence of neurocognitive disorders in nursing homes highlights the need for non-pharmacological interventions aimed at improving quality of life and psychosocial well-being. This study examines the effects of dramatized reading workshops (the Lulue® Method) on quality of life, well-being, loneliness, subjective memory complaints, life satisfaction, and anxiety and depression symptoms among older adults living with neurocognitive disorders.
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups was conducted among older adults with mild-to-moderate neurocognitive disorders (MMSE < 25/30). Participants were randomly assigned to a weekly Lulue® dramatized reading program delivered over three months or a waiting-list control group.
Results:
Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group compared to the control group for quality of life (p = .010), well-being (p = .004), and loneliness (p = .050). No significant differences were found for depressive symptoms or subjective memory complaints. .
Conclusions:
These findings support the potential of dramatized reading workshops to enhance psychological well-being among older adults with neurocognitive disorders.
Clinical Implications:
Dramatized reading workshops appear to be a feasible, low-cost non-pharmacological intervention that nursing homes could integrate into routine care to support residents' quality of life, well-being, and sense of loneliness.
