Implementation of Telemedicine for Patients With Dementia and Their Caregivers: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND

As dementia advances, symptoms and associated concerns lead to significant distress for both the patients and their caregivers. Telemedicine has the capacity to alleviate care-related issues for patients with dementia and their family caregivers.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to synthesize the implementation strategies for providing telemedicine to assist patients with dementia and their caregivers in home and community settings and to examine its effectiveness and implementation barriers.

METHODS

In accordance with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across 6 databases, including MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and ProQuest. The eligibility criteria for peer-reviewed English publications from January 2000 up to January 2025 encompassed research studies related to telemedicine services for individuals diagnosed with dementia and caregivers.

RESULTS

This study included 54 articles, comprising 14,446 participants from 10 countries. In total, 4 major themes emerged from the articles: the design of telemedicine services, effectiveness of telemedicine, external environmental factors, and barriers in telemedicine implementation. Cognitive training was addressed in 28 studies. Within the domain of work and leisure, 24 solutions were identified. Most reviewed studies indicated favorable experiences with telemedicine services and highlighted perceived personal and social benefits among patients with dementia, as well as identified barriers to accessing and using such services.

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies should encompass the enhancement of digital accessibility for individuals with restricted resources and limited technological proficiency, the use of randomized controlled trial methodologies to ascertain the comparative efficacy of various service delivery modes, and the augmentation of sample diversity.