Craft-based interventions to improve motor and cognitive health in older adults

ISRCTN	ISRCTN19035046
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN19035046

Submission date: 02/09/2025
Registration date: 03/09/2025
Last edited: 03/09/2025

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Other

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
As societies around the world rapidly age, healthcare costs rise and maintaining older adults’ health and daily living independence becomes increasingly important. One key challenge is finding ways to slow functional decline while supporting physical and cognitive abilities. This study explored how creative activities, specifically bamboo weaving, could improve fine motor skills and visual-motor integration (VMI) in older adults.

Who can participate?
Healthy older adult volunteers aged 65 to 75.

What does the study involve?
Participants were divided into three groups, A, B, and C, each targeting 30 individuals. The study was conducted at a research facility suitable for group-based craft interventions. Participants attended sessions in a controlled environment with the necessary materials and support from the research team. Participants attended structured bamboo weaving sessions of varying difficulty according to their assigned group. The program was designed to provide engaging and creative challenges to enhance hand dexterity and coordination. Before and after the intervention, participants completed assessments including the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) for fine motor skills, visual-motor integration (VMI) tests, visual perception (VP) tests, and motor coordination (MC) tests.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participation may improve hand dexterity, visual-motor integration, and coordination, which could support daily functioning and independence. Risks are expected to be minimal and primarily related to normal physical activity, such as withdrawal due to sudden physical discomfort. No adverse events are expected to be directly linked to the intervention itself.

Where is the study run from?
Cultural Heritage Park, Ministry of Culture, Taiwan.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2023 to June 2024.

Who is funding the study?
This study was investigator-initiated and primarily self-funded. The National Taipei University of Technology and the National Taichung University of Science and Technology provided institutional support in the form of facilities and administrative assistance, but no dedicated external research funding was received.

Who is the main contact?
Miss Yun-Chi Lee, S109859007@ntut.edu.tw, yunchilee0604@gmail.com

Contact information

Miss Yun-Chi Lee
Principal Investigator

National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei Tech
No. 40, Minquan E. St., Caotun Township
Nantou County
542004
Taiwan

ORCID ID	0000-0002-9939-0621
Phone	+886933561741
Email	S109859007@ntut.edu.tw

Prof Chi-Sen hung
Scientific

No. 129, Sec. 3, Sanmin Rd., North Dist.
Taichung City
404336
Taiwan

ORCID ID	0000-0001-9292-3600
Phone	+886913227832
Email	s6317666@gmail.com

Prof Tien Li Chen
Public

National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei Tech, No. 1, Sec. 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Da'an Dist.
Taipei City
106344
Taiwan

Phone	+886934313456
Email	chentl@ntut.edu.tw

Miss Yun-Chi Lee
Public

National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei Tech
No. 40, Minquan E. St., Caotun Township
Nantou County
542004
Taiwan

Phone	+886933561741
Email	yunchilee0604@gmail.com

Study information

Study design	Randomized controlled three-parallel-arm single-centre open-label study
Primary study design	Interventional
Secondary study design	Randomised parallel trial
Study setting(s)	School, Workplace
Study type	Prevention, Quality of life, Efficacy
Participant information sheet	Participant information can be found at: https://reurl.cc/lYn1p6
Scientific title	A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of craft-based therapeutic interventions (weaving programs of different complexity) on visual-motor integration, functional ability, and psychosocial well-being in older adults in Taiwan
Study acronym	Craft4Aging
Study objectives	Participation of older adults in craft weaving activities of varying levels of difficulty is expected to improve visual-motor integration, enhance daily functional performance, and promote psychosocial well-being.
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 28/06/2023, Central Regional Research Ethics Committee China Medical University (No. 83, Xueshi Rd., North Dist., Taichung City, 404018, Taiwan; +04-22052121#11941; rrec@mail.cmu.edu.tw), ref: CRREC-112-048
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Aging-related functional decline / geriatric health
Intervention	Participants were randomly allocated to one of the three intervention groups (cross-weaving, hexagonal weaving, and pinwheel weaving) using a computer-generated random number sequence, with a 1:1:1 allocation ratio. Randomisation was conducted by an independent researcher who was not involved in participant recruitment or outcome assessment, to minimise allocation bias. The following interventions were undertaken: Group A: Cross-weaving (low complexity) program, 4 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 60 min/session. Group B: Hexagonal weaving (medium complexity) program, 4 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 60 min/session. Group C: Pinwheel weaving (high complexity) program, 4 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 60 min/session.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure	Visual-motor integration, measured using the Beery VMI test, at baseline and post-intervention (4 weeks).
Secondary outcome measures	1. Daily functional ability, measured using the Barthel Index, at baseline and post-intervention 2. Psychosocial well-being, measured using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, at baseline and post-intervention
Overall study start date	01/06/2023
Completion date	27/06/2024

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Healthy volunteer, Resident
Age group	Senior
Lower age limit	65 Weeks
Upper age limit	89 Weeks
Sex	Both
Target number of participants	90 (30 per group)
Total final enrolment	87
Key inclusion criteria	1. Age ≥65 years 2. Living in community or day-care centres in Taiwan 3. Able to provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria	1. Severe cognitive impairment (MMSE < 18) 2. Major physical disability preventing handicraft participation 3. Unstable medical conditions
Date of first enrolment	01/08/2023
Date of final enrolment	31/12/2023

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Taiwan

Study participating centre

Cultural Heritage Park, Ministry of Culture

No. 362, Sec. 3, Fuxing Rd., South Dist.
Taichung City
402001
Taiwan

Sponsor information

National Taipei University of Technology
University/education

No. 1, Sec. 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Da'an Dist.
Taipei City
106344
Taiwan

Website	https://dc.ntut.edu.tw/
"ROR"	https://ror.org/00cn92c09

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date	31/12/2025
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	Yes
IPD sharing plan summary	Published as a supplement to the results publication
Publication and dissemination plan	Study results are currently under peer review for publication in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies and may be disseminated through academic conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
IPD sharing plan	Individual participant data will be made available as a supplement to the study publication, with all data anonymized to protect participant privacy.

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Protocol file			03/09/2025	No	No

Additional files

47928_Protocol.pdf

Editorial Notes

02/09/2025: Study's existence confirmed by the China Medical University Central District Regional Review Committee.