ArticlePloS one2026
Virtual community-based interventions for family caregivers of people with dementia: A scoping review protocol.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionFamily caregivers provide the majority of long-term care for people with dementia and often experience substantial psychological distress, social isolation, and caregiving burden. With the rapid development of digital technologies, virtual communities-platforms that enable interaction, information exchange, and emotional support-have emerged as a potential approach to support dementia caregivers. However, evidence regarding technological forms, content components and outcomes remains fragmented and heterogeneous. This scoping review aims to systematically map the existing evidence on virtual community-based interventions for family caregivers of people with dementia.
methodsThis protocol follows the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework for scoping reviews and will adhere to the PRISMA-P guidelines. The 'Population-Concept-Context' framework will guide eligibility determination. Empirical studies involving family caregivers of people with dementia and describing interventions delivered through interactive virtual communities will be eligible. We will systematically search eight databases. Grey literature sources will also be searched. Two reviewers will independently screen the literature and extract data using an iteratively refined charting tool focusing on technological forms, content components, and outcomes. Findings will be synthesized through descriptive mapping and qualitative content analysis. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, based on preliminary searches, this appears to be the first scoping review to focus specifically on virtual community-based interventions targeted at dementia family caregivers. Findings will provide a comprehensive overview of technological forms, content components, and outcomes, offering essential insights for the design, implementation, and evaluation of future virtual community interventions.
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