Table 3 Summary of characteristics and results of 15 included educational interventions, reported in 15 studies (for further detail see Additional file 2)

Altus 2002 [19] (Period 2) USA

BA

Locked dementia unit.

Family-style meals plus nurse training

5

Yes

Mod-severe

AD & others

NR

NR

? Suggested improvements in mealtime participation & communication, and staff praise statements, but no statistical significance provided.

5 days

Aselage 2011 [38] USA

RCT

Nursing home.

Staff education in eating & feeding skills

I = 4

C = 3

Yes

Mod

NR

→ Weight

? % Food consumed

? Fall in QoL likely but significance not reported

? Eating impairment

2 months

Faxen-Irving 2002 [39] Sweden

CCT

Group-living for people with dementia.

ONS & staff education vs usual care

I = 21

C = 12

Yes

Mixed

Mixed

Education + ONS:

↑ BMI

↑ Weight

↑ TSF

→ AC

→ Albumin

→ Hb

After ONS withdrawn

↓ Weight

→ Nutrition risk

Education + ONS:

→ Functional status

↓ Cognition (MMSE)

5 months

Hanson 2010 [37, 81–84] USA

RCT

Nursing homes.

Education of surrogates on feeding options

I = 127

C = 129

Yes

Severe

NR

↓ Weight loss

NR

? Knowledge, decisional conflict and certainty (only assessed for intervention group)

9 months

Jean 1997 [40] USA

BA

Nursing home.

Finger food menu plus staff training

12

NR

NR

AD & others

? Weight loss arrest

? ONS could be withdrawn in 25 % of participants

? Feeding independence

6 months

Kwok 2012 [41] Hong Kong

RCT

Old age hostels.

Resident & staff education with individual dietary counselling

I = 120

C = 149

Yes

MCI

N/A

→ Weight

→ Fruit intake

→ Vegetable intake

↑ fish intake

→ Cognitive status

33 months

Mamhidir 2007 [42] Sweden

CCT

Nursing homes.

Substantial staff training & support in integrity-promoting care

I = 18

C = 15

Yes

Various

Various

↑ Weight

NR

? Mealtime environment & routines (Qualitative analysis of staff diaries)

3 months

Mentes 2003 [43, 85] USA

BA

Nursing homes.

Hydration management staff training

8

NR

NR

NR

→ Urine specific gravity

→ Fluid intake

NR

4 weeks

NutriAlz Trial Salva 2009 [46, 86–89] Spain

RCT

Outpatient clinics and hospital day-care centres.

Personalised nutrition education program for people with dementia & caregivers

I = 448

C = 498

Yes

Mild-Mod

AD, vascular & other

→ Weight,

→ BMI,

↑ MNA

NR

→ Eating behaviour,

→ Caregiver burden

→ Cognitive status

→ Functional status

12 months

Perivolaris 2006 [29] Period 2 Canada

BA

Long term care facility.

Staff education (1 day workshop to assist in providing meaningful dining experience)

11

Yes

Mod-severe

Various

NR

→ E intake

→ Agitation

→Eating ability

→ Resident satisfaction

? Eating pace more leisurely

? Less wandering

? More relaxed.

6 weeks

Pivi 2011 [44] Brazil

RCT

Unclear.

People with dementia & caregiver nutritional education program

I = 25

C = 27

Yes

Mild-severe

AD

? BMI,

? Weight

? AC

→ TSF

→ Albumin

NR

NR

6 months

Riviere 2001 [45] France, Italy & Spain

CCT

Living at home with informal care-giver.

Caregiver nutritional education

I = 151

C = 74

Yes

NR

AD

↑ Weight,

↑ MNA

NR

→ Functional status,

↓ Cognitive status

12 months

Suominen 2007 [47] Finland

BA

Nursing home.

Staff training

21

Yes

Mod-severe

NR

→ Weight, → BMI,

→ MNA

↑ E intake

↑ Protein intake

? Staff reported improved confidence in assessing intake and making nutritional changes

12 months

Suominen 2013 [48, 50, 90] Finland

RCT

Community.

Tailored nutritional training for people with dementia & spouses

I = 50

C = 50

Yes

NR

AD

→ Weight

↑ Protein intake

? Reported improvement in QoL

12 months

Wikby 2009 [49] Sweden

CCT

Residential care.

Dietary management staff training

I = 68

C = 59

NR

NR

NR

→ Weight

→ PEM

→ TSF

→ AC

NR

↑ Functional status,

↑ Cognition

4 months