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Singing is an activity fundamental to human existence, yet for many, the act of singing where others may hear them is confronting and can generate anxiety. The Music Outreach Principle (MOP) offers an approach that has singing at its heart, and is socio-altruistic music making. One aspect of the MOP involves taking groups into aged care facilities to sing with the residents. Known as Outreach Singing, the focus is on using music for another's benefit. This study uses the philosophy of the MOP to determine if one episode of Outreach Singing can have a difference on an individual's singing confidence. The participants were adults (n=140) who attended a workshop where they were introduced to the philosophy of the MOP and then partook in an Outreach at a local aged care facility. Data were gathered via two questionnaires prior to the workshop and post the Outreach. Participants were asked about their singing behaviour, and also whether or not they considered themselves 'tone-deaf'. The results indicate that the single Outreach session positively affected the way the participants thought about singing, and had an impact on the singing confidence of all participants. The greatest positive impact was for the group who considered themselves 'tone-deaf'.

Early childhood teachers are often required to sing, which requires confidence. The purpose of the present study was to treat early childhood teachers who self-identified as uncertain singers using either a group singing (GS) approach, or a talking approach, based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The aim of the study was to increase measures of singing confidence. Forty teachers enrolled in the workshops and were assigned to either ACT or GS. Overall it was found that both ACT and GS resulted in significant improvements in singing confidence. Both interventions were similar on increased confidence measures and the GS outperformed ACT on an overall rating of improvement in self-perceived tone-deafness. We suggest that the interventions had benefits for participants through the group experience itself; that being prepared for music increased their confidence, and that gaining some knowledge of singing techniques led to a sense of empowerment. Implications and future research are discussed.

To develop an intervention to build resilience in carers of stroke survivors this study aimed to understand these carers' (1) Challenges that adversely affect their resilience, and (2) suggestions for a relevant intervention to build resilience. Individual semi-structured interviews were used. Participants included carers of stroke survivors (stroke duration > six months). Transcripts were analysed using the General Inductive Approach. This study followed guidelines of Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative research (COREQ). Four themes were identified that affected resilience: (1) carer psychosocial outcomes, (2) stroke's sudden and unexpected impact, (3) financial stressors, and (4) carer exclusion in care planning. Carers suggested an intervention comprising information sharing and training in coping skills, positive communication, problem-solving, and connection with "people who have gone through this" to improve resilience. Most supported a group, monthly delivery of the intervention. These findings provide direction for a suitable intervention. Further, they suggest that stroke rehabilitation could be improved by adopting a family-centered model of care so that carers can be included as active partners in care process. Protecting carers from the negative impact of caring role on their resilience may sustain their ability to provide long-term care for the stroke survivor. The provision of informal care to stroke survivors can be associated with significant emotional consequences, withdrawal from social activities, and poor quality of life for the carers. The abruptness of stroke presentation along with its long-term nature can negatively affect the resilience of informal carers. Exploration of challenges affecting carer resilience is important to develop interventions to build resilience in carers of stroke survivors. Integrating interventions focusing on carers' resilience as part of the stroke rehabilitation process is imperative to ensure well-being of carers and sustainability of the care provided to the stroke survivor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singing is an important part of teaching for early childhood teachers. However, some teachers find this difficult and may even identify themselves as "tone-deaf". We invited a group of early childhood teachers who self-identified as "tone-deaf" to participate in a study to investigate their beliefs and behaviours about singing and musicality. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 40 participants via a questionnaire. Results indicate that these teachers considered themselves to be unmusical and revealed negative feelings towards singing. They showed a general self-consciousness about their singing. These beliefs had been formed through various interactions with friends, family and in schools. While the teachers still participated in singing activities in the centres in which they worked, their participation was marred by feeling self-conscious when singing and they often altered their singing behaviour.

To identify and synthesise the evidence of interventions purported to build resilience among informal carers of stroke survivors. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of psychosocial interventions to build resilience for carers of people post-stroke was planned. A systematic search was conducted in seven online databases from inception to March 2021. Outcomes measured were resilience and its proxy constructs including copying, adaptation, adjustment, problem-solving, self-efficacy, locus of control, competence and strength. Twelve studies were included in the review and were grouped into four intervention categories (i) Education and social support, (ii) problem-solving skills, (iii) problem-solving skills, and psychoeducation and (iv) information provision, problem-solving skills and psychoeducation. Level of evidence A exists for interventions that combine information provision, problem-solving skills and psychoeducation over the interventions that only use problem-solving skills intervention or problem-solving skills with psychoeducation strategies. All interventions apart from one reported significant within and/or between group changes in outcomes. Interventions comprising of information provision, problem-solving skills and psychoeducation appear to be beneficial to improve resilience of carers. However, because of the heterogeneity of the interventions and outcome measures reported across the twelve studies no particular intervention could be definitively supported. Systematic review registration: CRD 42020172824 Providing care for stroke survivors is particularly demanding due to the lack of preparation for managing the unexpected and complex nature of stroke, resulting in negative physical, social, behavioral, emotional, and financial outcomes. The long-term nature of stroke and its many residual problems can negatively affect the physical and psychological well-being of the individual and their carers, which may subsequently affect the recovery of the stroke survivor. Evidence suggests that resilience is the protective shield for carers' stress and burnout. Integrating interventions focusing on carers' resilience as part of the stroke rehabilitation process is imperative to ensure the well-being of carers and the sustainability of the care provided to the stroke survivor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether sensitivity to movement‐evoked pain (SMEP), central sensitivity symptom burden, and quantitative sensory testing (QST) outcomes differ between healthy controls and people with chronic shoulder pain. Methods: People with chronic shoulder pain (n = 39) and healthy controls (n = 26) completed validated questionnaires measuring demographic, pain characteristics, psychological factors, social support, sleep quality, central sensitivity inventory (CSI), and physical activity levels. A blinded assessor administered QST measuring pressure pain threshold, temporal summation, conditioned pain modulation, and cold hyperalgesia. All participants performed repeated lifting of weighted canisters and reported severity of pain over successive lifts of the weighted canisters. Between‐group differences in the QST, SMEP and CSI scores were investigated. Demographic and psychosocial variables were adjusted in the analyses. Results: Dynamic mechanical allodynia, mechanical temporal summation, movement‐evoked pain scores, SMEP index, and CSI scores were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in the chronic shoulder pain group than in healthy controls. A significant proportion of people with chronic shoulder pain presented with pro‐nociceptive profiles and experienced higher pain severity, interference, and disability. Conclusions: People with chronic shoulder pain displayed symptoms and signs of central sensitization. Future research should investigate the predictive role of central sensitization on clinical outcomes in shoulder pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this narrative review was to establish a link between psychological and physical wellbeing in people with and without chronic health conditions who participated in group singing. Four databases were searched (PubMed, WoS, MEDLINE, and Scopus) using a systematic search method. Articles were screened, yielding 19 suitable articles. In most studies that were included group singing led to an increase in both psychological and physiological wellbeing. The major impacts were on affect and depression and anxiety. Group singing positively affects both physical and psychological wellbeing in people with and without chronic health conditions. No direction of causality could be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]