Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40331734›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced nursing2026

Palliative Care for People With Very Severe to Extreme Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD): A Scoping Review.

Maree Gallop, Jenny Ford, Alexandra Bowman, Antony Mullen, Debbie Schwebel, Amanda Johnson, Ritin Fernandez

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Maree GallopHunter New England Mental Health, Mater Hospital, Waratah, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3331-4012
Jenny FordPsychogeriatric Community Team, Port Macquarie Community Health Centre, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8861-9258
Alexandra BowmanCentral Coast Local Health District, Mental Health, Wyong Hospital, Kanwal, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3888-0814
Antony MullenHunter New England Mental Health, Mater Hospital, Waratah, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7185-3922
Debbie SchwebelMid North Coast Local Health District, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4943-9001
Amanda JohnsonStudent Central, Academic Division, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4385-9547
Ritin FernandezSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6143-7703

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo explore current evidence regarding the provision of palliative care for individuals with very severe to extreme behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in a hospital setting.

designScoping review. REPORTING

methodThe PRISMA-ScR reporting guideline.

methodsThe JBI guidelines for scoping reviews were followed. A data extraction form assisted in the identification of key findings via a process of content analysis. DATA SOURCES: Studies were obtained from bibliographic databases of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO.

resultsThis review included six articles, and nine categories emerged from the findings. Symptom assessment and management, pain assessment challenges, atypical presentation of end-stage dementia, complex prescribing and treatment practices, principles of person-centred care, collaboration; training for health care professionals; emotional impact on staff; and family and caregivers.

conclusionsThis scoping review highlighted a significant gap in the literature regarding palliative care for people living with very severe to extreme BPSD in hospital settings. This review highlighted key differences in the presentation of people with BPSD needing palliative care. There is a need for tailored models of care, specialised training and education for health professionals, families, and carers, and recognition of dementia as a terminal illness. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: The results of this review provide valuable insights into the level of understanding about the unique palliative care needs for people experiencing very severe to extreme BPSD, making an important contribution to the planning and development of future models of care. IMPACT: Mapping the available literature highlights a paucity of research in palliative care for people with very severe to extreme BPSD in hospital settings. There is a need for rigorous research studies and models of care developed and informed by the evidence for this small population necessitating unique care needs. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Indexed as

DementiaPalliative CareAgedAged, 80 and overCaregiversFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Agedacute caredementiahospital caremodels of carepalliative care

Identifiers

PMID40331734
PMCPMC12810597

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.