Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25274714›Full record

SynthesisHealth education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education2014

A systematic review of strategies to foster activity engagement in persons with dementia.

Maranda A Trahan, Julie Kuo, Michelle C Carlson, Laura N Gitlin

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
  5. Trial
  6. Towards Real-World Dementia Care: Encouraging Activity Engagement Using an Intelligent Humanoid Robot.Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society · 2026
    Article
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  14. Early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease: new definitions and challenges.Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999) · 2020
    Article
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  17. Perspectives of caregivers and volunteers onHong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOT · 2018
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Maranda A TrahanDivision of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA info@trahanbehavioralservices.com.
Julie KuoDepartment of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Michelle C CarlsonDepartment of Mental Health, Center on Aging, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Laura N GitlinSchool of Nursing, Center for Innovative Care in Aging, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Funding

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS OF AGINGT32AG000247 · NIA · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI Karen J. Bandeen-Roche · 1996 to 2026
$13.2M
Translational Research Training Program in Gerontology and GeriatricsT32AG000120 · NIA · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI FEDARKO, NEAL S · 1986 to 2012
$4.2M
Reducing Agitation in Dementia Patients at Home: The Customized Activity TrialR01AG041781 · NIA · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI GITLIN, LAURA N. · 2012 to 2017
$3.3M
NCHM CDC HHS U38 HM000454NIA NIH HHS 1R01AG041781NIA NIH HHS R01 AG041781NIA NIH HHS T32 AG000120NIA NIH HHS T32 AG000247
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Dementia is a growing public health issue. Activity, a positive therapeutic modality, has potential to enhance quality of life and reduce behavioral symptoms in persons with dementia--outcomes eluding pharmacological treatments. However, it is unclear how to effectively engage persons with dementia in activities for them to derive desired benefits. We present a systematic review of 28 studies involving 50 tests of different ways of modifying activities to enhance engagement and reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms for this group. Of 50 tests, 22 (44%) evaluated changes to objects and properties (e.g., introducing activities with intrinsic interest), 6 (12%) evaluated changes to space demands (e.g., lighting, noise levels), 8 (16%) evaluated changes to social demands (e.g., prompts, praise), and 14 (28%) combined two or more activity modifications. No modifications were made to the sequence and timing of activities. Although modifications to objects and properties were the most common, outcomes for engagement and behaviors were mixed. Modifications to space and social demands were less frequently tested, but consistently yielded positive outcomes. No modifications resulted in negative behavioral outcomes or decreased engagement. Methodological strengths of studies included direct observation of outcomes and fidelity assessments. Few studies however involved persons with dementia at home. Our review revealed a growing evidentiary base for different modifications to foster engagement in activities and reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms. Future studies should evaluate how contextual factors (e.g., physical environment, activity type) and caregiver ability to employ activity modifications affect engagement.

Indexed as

Motor ActivityRecreationAged, 80 and overDementiaFemaleHealth PromotionHumansMaleOutcome Assessment, Health CareQuality of Lifeactivitiesagingbehavioral interventionsdementia

Identifiers

PMID25274714
PMCPMC4454346

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.