Previously submitted to: Journal of Medical Internet Research (no longer under consideration since May 05, 2025)
Date Submitted: Nov 27, 2024
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Current Digital Interventions for Urinary Tract Infection Prevention and Management in Persons Living with Dementia: A Scoping Review
ABSTRACT
Background:
Older adults with dementia are at higher risk of hospitalized for urinary tract infections (UTIs), with worse health outcomes. Digital interventions, such as smartphone apps, wearable devices, and telehealth, hold promise for improving UTI detection, monitoring, and prevention. However, their effectiveness for people with dementia and their caregivers remains unclear.
Objective:
This review aims to identify: 1) The types of digital interventions and devices used for UTI management and prevention in people with dementia and their caregivers; and 2) The outcome variables and key findings of these interventions.
Methods:
A scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR framework, searching PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science for studies from 1998 to 2024. The review included quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies that described digital interventions for UTI management in persons with dementia. Studies were excluded if they lacked detailed intervention descriptions or outcome reporting. Data were charted and summarized to address the study aims.
Results:
Seven studies were included from 1800 screened. Three digital interventions were evaluated: Technology Integrated Health Management (TIHM), a real-time locating system (RTLS), and a smart diaper system (SDS). The TIHM and RTLS showed high effectiveness in UTI detection, with sensitivities up to 91%, while the SDS had lower sensitivity.
Conclusions:
The review highlights the potential of sensor-based technology and AI in early UTI detection. However, most interventions lack theoretical foundations and preventive strategies, suggesting a need for more comprehensive approaches involving caregivers and clinical guidelines. Clinical Trial: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/G2SZW
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