Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42091149›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2026

Exploring the impact of Namaste Care for individuals with advanced dementia: a systematic review of costs, effects and benefits.

Tereza Parks, Jana Soukopová, Dominika Tóthová, Hanneke J A Smaling, Aileen Murphy, Lucie Vidovićová, Jakub Hlavka

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 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.

Tereza ParksMasaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic tereza.parks@econ.muni.cz.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4235-8011
Jana SoukopováMasaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9423-3301
Dominika TóthováMasaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2378-7788
Hanneke J A SmalingPublic Health and Primary Care, Leiden Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7836-431X
Aileen MurphyEconomics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3062-0692
Lucie VidovićováMasaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3895-100X
Jakub HlavkaMasaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2766-390X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesNamaste Care, a non-pharmaceutical daily multicomponent palliative care intervention, offers care for people with dementia, aiming to improve quality of life of those living with dementia as well as their family and caregivers. This systematic review explores the Namaste Care intervention and its clinical and economic effects in multiple care settings. The aim of this review is to consolidate existing evidence on Namaste Care's clinical and economic outcomes and examine the tools used for data collection.

designA systematic literature search was conducted (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) to identify peer-reviewed studies on Namaste Care's impact on quality of life, costs, health, economic outcomes and benefits up to 22 February 2026. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, while the completeness of reporting of economic evaluation studies was evaluated according to the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards 2022 (CHEERS).

results31 studies reported the clinical and/or economic outcomes of Namaste Care. The results for quality of life and quality of dying were mixed, while 5 of 11 studies evaluating quality of life reported significant improvements. The various quality-of-life instruments used include the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID), EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L instruments, ICEpop CAPability Measure for Older People (ICECAP-O), ICECAP Supportive Care Measure (ICECAP-SCM), Quality of Life for People with Dementia (QUALIDEM) and Carers-DEMentia Quality of Life (C-DEMQOL). The clinical outcomes considered included pain, behavioural symptoms and quality of end-of-life care. The Medication Quantification Scale and Minimum Data Set indicated reductions in antidepressant and antianxiety medication use. Seven studies reported significant improvements in well-being, and two studies reported reduced stress among family members following Namaste Care sessions. A subset of five studies reported a range of economic outcomes.

conclusionThe findings suggest that Namaste Care improves well-being, reduces caregiver stress and lowers the use of antidepressant and antianxiety medications at a moderate cost. The current literature is characterised by small, non-random, heterogeneous studies. Randomised controlled trials, which include economic evaluations, help to improve evidence-based research to support funding and implementation decisions on Namaste Care. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024560056.

Indexed as

DementiaPalliative CareQuality of LifeCaregiversCost-Benefit AnalysisHumansDementiaHealth Care CostsQuality of LifeTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID42091149
PMCPMC13150879

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.