mHealth applications as an educational and supportive resource for family carers of people with dementia: An integrative review

Abstract

Family carers encounter several challenges related to caring for people with dementia, and they need support in managing care recipients' health needs. This study aims to identify, appraise and synthesise the existing evidence on the use of mHealth/smartphone applications as an educational and supportive resource for family carers of people with dementia. An integrative literature review approach was used. Seven databases were searched. The search generated 117 articles, with seven meeting the inclusion criteria. Three categories and their attendant sub-categories emerged from the literature. The categories are 'carer support', 'evaluation strategies' and 'barriers and challenges'. mHealth applications appear to be a feasible intervention for family carers of people with dementia despite the limited available research and barriers for their development and implementation. Further research on mHealth applications with strong methodological rigour and more research on mHealth applications as an educational and supportive resource for carers of people with dementia are needed.

Family carers' perspectives of managing activities of daily living and use of mHealth applications in dementia care: A qualitative study

“…Family carers identified time limitations, cost and technology as significant barriers to their use of mHealth apps, and this is congruent with other study findings about mHealth apps for family carers (Rathnayake et al, ; Williamson, Gorman, & Jimison, ). However, the use of mHealth apps can minimise some challenges in traditional educational methods, for example, affordability due to high cost and accessibility due to transportation, time and location (Davis, Shehab, Shenk, & Nies, ).…”

“…Reyes, Camargo, and Díaz () developed an mHealth app for carers that includes a system for supporting nonpharmacological interventions such as reminiscence therapy, reality orientation therapy, psychosocial therapy and cognitive rehabilitation therapy. Although mHealth apps are yet to be widely used among carers of people with dementia, these apps may present a feasible solution to provide them with functional care information to improve care outcomes (Rathnayake et al, ). Consequently, an exploration of family carers' perception towards mHealth apps, particularly related to obtaining information through these apps, is timely.…”

“…In a systematic review, Martínez-Pérez, Torre-Díez, and López-Coronado (2013) state that there are more than 3,673 mHealth apps related to the most prevalent health conditions. These apps are increasingly used in different health fields including medical practice, health promotion, medical and nursing education, as well as mental health and chronic disease management (Rathnayake, Moyle, Jones, & Calleja, 2018), and these are readily accepted by the general public (Kayyali et al, 2017). However, a recent literature review reported that mHealth apps are not widely used among carers of people with dementia, but they are used in carer education, monitoring and cognitive training (Rathnayake et al, 2018).…”

“…These apps are increasingly used in different health fields including medical practice, health promotion, medical and nursing education, as well as mental health and chronic disease management (Rathnayake, Moyle, Jones, & Calleja, 2018), and these are readily accepted by the general public (Kayyali et al, 2017). However, a recent literature review reported that mHealth apps are not widely used among carers of people with dementia, but they are used in carer education, monitoring and cognitive training (Rathnayake et al, 2018). For example, Brown et al (2016) developed an mHealth app to deliver education concerning providing care for people with dementia and to improve wellness of carers.…”

“…Although mHealth apps are yet to be widely used among carers of people with dementia, these apps may present a feasible solution to provide them with functional care information to improve care outcomes (Rathnayake et al, 2018). Consequently, an exploration of family carers' perception towards mHealth apps, particularly related to obtaining information through these apps, is timely.…”