Sunjaya, AM;
Schreiber, T;
Kantilal, K;
Davies, N;
Griffiths, S;
(2025)
Communication strategies for delivering personalised dementia care and support: a mixed-methods systematic review and narrative synthesis.
Age and Ageing
, 54
(5)
, Article afaf120. 10.1093/ageing/afaf120.
(In press).
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Abstract
Background: Given the significant burden and rising prevalence of dementia, it is essential that personalised care is available to people with dementia (PWD) and their family carers. This involves tailoring support to meet individuals’ unique needs and preferences. Effective communication is fundamental to delivering such care, yet dementia impacts communication, posing challenges in meeting individuals’ needs. Aim: To understand key communication strategies used by healthcare professionals (HCPs) in delivering personalised dementia care. Methods: A systematic search across MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCare, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted (April 2024) without limits on care setting, country or publication date. We identified studies examining communication strategies, barriers, and facilitators for delivering personalised care for PWD and their carers. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Using codebook thematic analysis, a narrative synthesis of findings was developed. Results and Conclusion: The review included 33 studies, encompassing qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research conducted in hospitals, care homes and community settings. Most studies originate from high-income countries and care homes, limiting generalisability. Three themes on communication strategies for delivering personalised dementia care were developed: understanding the person, their family and their care context; communication techniques (verbal, nonverbal and use of external aids); and support for the workforce. The review underscores the importance of combining practical, emotional and relational approaches while highlighting current gaps, such as the need for better workforce support and more research in primary care and culturally diverse contexts.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Communication strategies for delivering personalised dementia care and support: a mixed-methods systematic review and narrative synthesis |
| Location: | England |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1093/ageing/afaf120 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf120 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. This is an Open Access ar ticle distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Keywords: | communication, dementia, healthcare, older people, personalised care, systematic review, Humans, Dementia, Communication, Caregivers, Precision Medicine |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Primary Care and Population Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10210599 |
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