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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07568301

Nature in Harmony: Music and Nature-based Self-care for Individuals With Acquired Brain Injuries and Their Care Partners

The goal of this pilot study is to determine the initial impact on wellbeing for clients with acquired brain injury and their care partner after engaging in a nature & music-based program facilitated by occupational therapy and music therapy. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Primary Question: What is the impact on wellbeing for clients with acquired brain injury and their care partner after engaging in a nature & music-based program facilitated by occupational therapy and music therapy? * Secondary Question: What is the feasibility of a four-session nature & music-based wellness program for clients with acquired brain injury and care partner dyads?

* Attendance * Satisfaction * Accessibility * Carryover of Strategies

Participants will complete self-reported surveys before and after completing 4 sessions of a nature & music-based program facilitated by occupational therapy and music therapy.

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Key information

Conditions

Acquired Brain Injury (Including Stroke) Brain Diseases Brain Injuries Caregivers Central Nervous System Diseases Craniocerebral Trauma Nervous System Diseases Trauma, Nervous System Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15228, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • All participants must be above the age of 18 to participate.
  • Able to communicate in English
  • A person with an ABI can include persons with a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, stroke, aneurysm, brain infection, and/or brain cancer.
  • A care partner is broadly defined as a social support person who has been identified as a family member or friend of the person with the acquired brain injury.
  • Capacity for consent - Person must be their own medical power of attorney
  • Capacity for Self-Reflection (have a score of 23/35 on the MOCA or have a 5/6 on the Design Memory Test sub test of Cognition and Language Quick Test)

Exclusion criteria

  • Self-reported severe-to profound hearing loss with the use of hearing aid(s)
  • Cannot communicate in English
  • Have a diagnosis of a progressive neurological disorder, such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis
  • Have a severe aphasia

Treatment and study plan

Nature in Harmony

Behavioral
  • Session 1- Duquesne University -120 minutes- Building Rapport: Psychoeducation on Music & Nature
  • Session 2 - Duquesne University - 90 minutes - Using the Senses for Wellness
  • Session 3 - Duquesne University - 90 minutes - Connections & Community
  • Session 4 - Frick Park Environmental Center - 4 Hours including Lunch - Self Care Immersion in Nature Retreat

Primary outcomes

  1. EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index

    Time frame: First session to end of program approximately 4 weeks.

    EUROHIS-QOL 8 is a standardized assessment of general quality of life that assesses four domains of QOL: physical, psychological, social, and environmental. This assessment has been validated for persons with traumatic brain injury (Balalla et al., 2019). This is 5-point scale from "not at all" to "completely." A high total point value indicates a better quality of life rating.

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale

    Time frame: First session to end of program approximately 4 weeks.

    The 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale will be administered as a secondary outcome to determine if any impacts are seen after this brief program because of participation. This measure has been used with persons post-traumatic brain injury, stroke, and caregivers. Rating scale goes from 0-4 with higher total scores indicating better resilence.

  2. Dyadic Relationship Scale

    Time frame: First day to end of program approximately 4 weeks

    The 10-item Dyadic Relationship Scale will be administered as a secondary outcome to examine any changes in both positive and negative interactions between individuals with ABI and their care partners after this program (Sebern & Whitlatch, 2007). This is a four point scale with a higher score indicating more negative dyad experiences.

  3. Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8)

    Time frame: Last session, approximately 4 weeks after first session

    This measure uses eight questions on a four point Likert-scale strongly agree to strongly disagree to assess participants' overall satisfaction with the program with a maximum score of 32 (Attkisson & Greenfield, 2004). The average score for the group on the CSQ-8 is at least 24.

  4. Attendance

    Time frame: Every week for 4 weeks.

    Session attendance will be tracked at every session throughout the program as either present "1" or absent "0". Participants who attend all sessions will have a total of 4.

  5. Accessibility of the strategies

    Time frame: Every week of the program for four weeks.

    4-point Likert scale survey will be used to document participants' interest in using the covered strategies in the sessions. Items will not be totaled and scales vary by question.

  6. Carryover of the strategies

    Time frame: Weekly journal entries for weeks 2,3, and 4.

    A self-reported journal includes date, the name of the activity, length, and personnels will be provided for documenting the carryover activities outside of the session time.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Duquesne University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 5, 2026
Registry last updated
May 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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