Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40370080›Full record

SynthesisAge and ageing2025

Barriers and facilitators to implementation of mental capacity legislation in care homes for older adults in the United Kingdom: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Louis Stokes, Michelle Maden, Nefyn Williams, Nina Jacob, Sion Scott, Victoria Shepherd, Cara Gates, Liz Jones, Sandra Barker, Marie-Clare Hunter and 6 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Age and ageing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
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

16 authors.

Louis StokesThe University of Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, 358a Glossop Road Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2HQ, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-7551-9155
Michelle MadenLiverpool Reviews and Implementation Group Liverpool, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Nefyn WilliamsInstitute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Nina JacobCentre for Trials Research Cardiff, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
Sion ScottSchool of Allied Health Professions, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 7RH, United Kingdom.
Victoria ShepherdCentre for Trials Research Cardiff, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-7687-0817
Cara GatesSchool of Health and Community Studies, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Liz JonesThe University of Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, 358a Glossop Road Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2HQ, United Kingdom.
Sandra BarkerThe University of Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, 358a Glossop Road Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2HQ, United Kingdom.
Marie-Clare HunterThe University of Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, 358a Glossop Road Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2HQ, United Kingdom.
Grahame SmithSchool of Nursing and Allied Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Hayley ProutCentre for Trials Research Cardiff, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
Mishel IngleThe University of Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, 358a Glossop Road Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2HQ, United Kingdom.
Ffion CurtisLiverpool Reviews and Implementation Group Liverpool, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Ruaraidh HillLiverpool Reviews and Implementation Group Liverpool, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Alys Wyn GriffithsThe University of Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, 358a Glossop Road Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2HQ, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-9388-9168

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveMental Capacity legislation defines when a person lacks capacity and subsequently supports individuals to make as many decisions as possible for themselves. Whilst frameworks exist, care home staff often feel unsupported with insufficient knowledge and training. This review aimed to understand barriers and facilitators of implementing mental capacity legislation in care homes for older adults in the United Kingdom.

methodsA systematic review was conducted and 3041 potentially relevant studies identified, with 13 studies eligible for inclusion. 11 focused on the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and two on the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. Barriers and/or facilitators were extracted and subsequently mapped to the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation model and Theoretical Domains Framework.

resultsBarriers included poor access to training, low staff confidence and a lack of understanding about using legislation in context. Conversely, staff reported in-person training using real-life examples, robust organisational policies and processes and respecting person-centred care were key facilitators. Sense-checking conversations were conducted with care home staff (n = 18) to interpret findings in the context of current practice.

conclusionsThis review presents complex and multi-faceted barriers preventing the implementation of mental capacity legislation in care homes for older adults. Whilst care home staff have now started to appreciate the importance of such legislation, insufficient time, resources and an inability to track staff knowledge prevents effective implementation of the law. Future research should explore how staff are trained about legislation and identify best practices.

Indexed as

AgingHealth PersonnelHomes for the AgedMental CompetencyNursing HomesAgedAge FactorsAttitude of Health PersonnelHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansUnited Kingdomcare homesdementiamental capacityolder peoplequalitativesocial caresystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40370080
PMCPMC12078770

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.