Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, KITE Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gerontology. 2021;67(5):633-638. doi: 10.1159/000514838. Epub 2021 Mar 26.
Dementia drastically impacts the quality of life (QOL) of both people living with dementia (PLwD) and their family caregivers. As dementia progresses and care needs escalate, the likelihood of institutionalization is increased, which is counter to the wishes of the majority of older adults and their family members. Dementia care apps can provide critical support and have the potential to improve the QOL of both PLwD and their family caregivers and reduce perceived caregivers' burden. However, there is a lack of understanding of the needs of both PLwD and their family caregivers related to dementia care apps. There is also a gap in understanding the privacy concerns in relation to the apps among older adults with dementia and their caregivers. As such, the main aims of this systematic review are to understand the landscape of dementia mobile apps targeting PLwD and their caregivers with respect to the features of the apps, usability testing, and the privacy and security aspects of the app from the perspective of both app developers/researchers and the end users (PLwD and family caregivers who provide care of PLwD). Extensive databases, including ACM Digital Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Compendex, Embase, Inspec, Ovid MEDLINE(R) Daily, Proquest Dissertations and These Global, PsycINFO, and Scopus, have been searched. All searches are from the inception of the databases. All peer-reviewed studies and articles written in the English language are included. Two reviewers will independently screen and select the studies with the involvement of a third reviewer for disagreements. Data will be abstracted using a custom data extraction form that is made based on the research questions. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists will be used to assess the study quality. As the first review of its kind, the findings from this review will provide valuable insights related to the needs of the dementia care apps for both PLwD and their family caregivers. The review will be relevant to health providers who are interested in using technologies to promote the independence of PLwD and reduce the stress experienced from caregivers of PLwD. The review will also serve as a guide to app developers and researchers to design usable and acceptable apps. In addition, the review will provide critical knowledge of the privacy and security features of the app to reveal the valid concerns from the end users and thus help with the uptake and adoption of the dementia care apps.
痴呆症严重影响了痴呆患者（PLwD）及其家庭照顾者的生活质量（QOL）。随着痴呆症的发展和护理需求的增加，住院的可能性增加了，这与大多数老年人及其家庭成员的意愿背道而驰。痴呆症护理应用程序可以提供关键支持，并有可能改善 PLwD 和其家庭照顾者的 QOL，并减轻照顾者的负担。然而，对于痴呆症护理应用程序，PLwD 和他们的家庭照顾者的需求还没有得到充分的了解。此外，对于痴呆症患者及其照顾者来说，与应用程序相关的隐私问题也存在理解上的差距。因此，本系统评价的主要目的是从应用程序开发人员/研究人员和最终用户（PLwD 和为 PLwD 提供护理的家庭照顾者）的角度了解针对 PLwD 及其照顾者的痴呆症移动应用程序的情况，包括应用程序的功能、可用性测试以及应用程序的隐私和安全方面。已搜索了包括 ACM 数字图书馆、Cochrane 中央对照试验注册、Compendex、Embase、Inspec、Ovid MEDLINE®日报、Proquest 论文与这些全球、PsycINFO 和 Scopus 在内的广泛数据库。所有搜索均从数据库创建开始。包括以英语撰写的所有同行评议研究和文章。两位评审员将独立筛选和选择研究，并在出现分歧时邀请第三位评审员参与。将使用基于研究问题的自定义数据提取表格来提取数据。将使用批判性评估技能计划（CASP）检查表来评估研究质量。作为此类研究的首次综述，本综述的结果将为 PLwD 和其家庭照顾者的痴呆症护理应用程序需求提供有价值的见解。该综述将与有兴趣使用技术来促进 PLwD 的独立性并减轻 PLwD 照顾者的压力的医疗保健提供者相关。该综述还将为应用程序开发人员和研究人员提供指南，以设计可用且可接受的应用程序。此外，该综述将提供应用程序隐私和安全功能的关键知识，揭示最终用户的有效关注点，从而有助于痴呆症护理应用程序的采用。
