Music in the nursing home: hitting the right note! The provision of music to dementia patients with verbal and vocal agitation in Dutch nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to provide insight into the type of music being offered in Dutch nursing homes to patients with both dementia and verbal and vocal agitation. It also investigates the degree to which the music offered corresponds to the musical preferences of the nursing home residents. METHOD: Using random sampling, 20 nursing homes were selected to participate in this study. Within these homes, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nursing home physicians (n = 17) and other nursing home care providers (n = 20). Each interview focused on up to three psychogeriatric residents with verbal and vocal agitation. In total, 51 residents were discussed in the interviews. RESULTS: For each resident, the frequency of music, the type of music being offered, and the degree of correspondence between the music being offered and the resident's preferences varied. In almost all cases, music was being offered in the communal living room during the mid-morning coffee and the afternoon tea, while music was only infrequently offered to residents during meals. However, this music was not tailored to the preferences of the residents. During patient-centered care activities in the early morning and before sleep, when offered, the music was generally tailored to the preferences of the resident(s). CONCLUSION: Music is frequently played in nursing homes to patients with dementia who have verbal and vocal agitation. When offered to a group of residents, the music tends not to be tailored to the preferences of the residents. However, when offered individually, musical preferences are generally taken into account.

[Vaccine coverage in the Noun Department, Cameroon, 1 1/2 year following the 1986-1987 National Vaccination Days]. / La couverture vaccinale dans le département du Noun, Cameroun, un an et demi après les Journees-Nationales de Vaccination de 1986-1987.

In 1988, one and a half year after the National Immunization Days (NID) the coverage of fully immunized children is 19.1% in the Noun district of Cameroon. This coverage is identical to that of 1984. At district level, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) does not seem to increase the immunization coverage with the acutal efforts. The advantages and constraints of mass-campaigns as NID are discussed. Even without considering the financial aspects it seem preferable to integrate the EPI in a Mother and Child Health Programme.