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Table 1 Summary of characteristics of activity-based intervention studies to improve experience of care in hospital for Plwd

From: Activity interventions to improve the experience of care in hospital for people living with dementia: a systematic review

Study, country

Design

Population characteristics at baseline

Dementia status/

assessment

Reason for hospital admission;

type of ward/facility

Intervention

Comparator

Outcomes

Study duration

DiNapoli et al. (2016) [36] USA

RCT

n = 52 Plwd

(I: 26, C: 26), mean age: 70.6, 60% women

Mild to moderate cognitive impairment as indicated by a score of 15–27 on the Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination

Involuntarily committed to receive care as a result of displaying inappropriate behaviours or disturbing the peace; Psychogeriatric (geriatric psychiatry facility)

Individualized social activities intervention to improve QoL of cognitively impaired geriatric patients

Usual care including scheduled psychoeducational groups, pharmaco-therapy, and social work consults provided by the facility

QoL, behaviour

up to 2 weeks

Gitlin et al. (2016) [37] USA

TS

n = 20 Plwd, mean age: 77.6, 60% women

Patients with a dementia diagnosis

Behavioural disturbances; Psychogeriatric (medical behavioural unit)

Tailored Activity Program for Hospitals (TAP-H) to improve engagement in Plwd admitted for behavioural disturbances

Standardised activity session at baseline

Engagement, mood

unclear

Weber et al. (2009) [38] Switzerland

TS

n = 76 Plwd, mean age: 77.5, 49% women

Clinical diagnosis of dementia according to ICD-10 criteria. Dementia severity assessed using the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale

Behavioural disturbances; Psychiatric day hospital

Psychotherapeutically-oriented day hospital program for Plwd with BPSD

Admission as baseline time point

Engagement (therapeutic progress), behaviour

12+ months

Cheong et al. (2016) [39] Singapore

BA

n = 25 Plwd/delirium, mean age: 86.5, 60% women

Dementia diagnosed by geriatricians according to DSM-IV; delirium ascertained with the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)

Not specified; Acute care

Creative music therapy sessions for Plwd and/or delirium to improve wellbeing

(pre-intervention)

Engagement, mood

3 months

Daykin et al. (2017) [40] UK

BA

n = 20 Plwd, aged > 80, 65% women

Patients with a dementia diagnosis

Not specified; Acute care

Inclusive participatory music activity to support wellbeing of Plwd

(pre-intervention)

Behaviour

10 weeks

Windle et al. (2018) [41] UK

PC

n = 23 Plwd, mean age 81.4, 52% women

Patients with a dementia diagnosis or evidence of age-related memory impairment. Dementia severity assessed using the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale

Not specified; NHS assessment units

Visual arts programme to improve wellbeing and social behaviours of Plwd

Unstructured social activity with no arts activities at baseline

Wellbeing, QoL, engagement (communication)

6 months

  1. BA Before-after study (pre-post), C Controls, DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ICD-10 International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, I Intervention, NHS National Health Service, PC Prospective cohort, Plwd People living with dementia, QoL Quality of life, RCT Randomised controlled trial, TS Time-series