Work

How are nature-based interventions defined in mild cognitive impairment and dementia studies? A conceptual systematic review and novel taxonomy

Year: 2024

Type: review

Abstract: ObjectivesTo systematically review research testing nature-based interventions for people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, and to report how authors have defined their interventions by presenting a taxonomy of the nature-based interventions.MethodsA conceptual systematic review of research published between 2008 and 2024 investigating nature-based interventions for people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia was conducted. Three reviewers contributed independently. Exclusion criteria: not specifying if participants had mild cognitive impairment or dementia, only recruiting caregivers, no primary data, study protocols, abstracts, reviews, not peer-reviewed journal articles and any other grey literature. Intervention descriptions within the papers were thematically analysed.ResultsFifty-two articles reporting fifty-one studies were included. The most common interventions were nature virtual reality (VR technology) and gardening. From the definition data, we produced a taxonomy with overarching domains of: (a) Other terms used; (b) Characteristics; (c) Activities. Subdomains included: development or approach, modes of action, location, physical features, and activities. Some interventions could be grouped. Structure and standardisation of the interventions varied, with a lack of clear reporting.ConclusionThis taxonomy provides conceptualisations of nature-based interventions that can be used by future researchers to guide the development, evaluation and reporting of robust interventions in this area.

Source: Dementia

DOI: 10.1177/14713012241261788

Authors: Harmony Jiang, Gill Eaglestone, Paul McCrone, Catherine Carr, Charlotte Stoner

Institutions: University of Greenwich, Queen Mary University of London

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450