Identifying Facilitators and Obstacles in Piloting Dementia Initiatives within a Living Lab approach: a systematic review
ABSTRACT
Background:
Dementia affects over 55 million people worldwide, posing a public health challenge with no current cure. In response, digital health solutions, particularly those developed within Living Labs, have emerged as promising approaches. However, the operational, ethical, and regulatory complexities of Living Labs may hinder the success of dementia initiatives.
Objective:
This study aimed to identify facilitators and challenges of piloting dementia initiatives within a Living Lab framework.
Methods:
A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Four databases – PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost – were searched following PRISMA guidelines, without date restrictions for studies published in English, Portugues or Spanish. Eligible studies described the implementation of dementia-related initiatives within Living Labs. A synthesis without meta-analysis was performed.
Results:
Of 119 articles, 15 met the inclusion criteria (10 qualitative, 5 mixed-methods studies). Facilitators and barriers were grouped into two themes: (1) Organizational and Operational Issues, and (2) Ethical and Legal Considerations. Organizational and Operational issues included four subtopics: Engaging People Living with Dementia (End-users), Research design & Evaluation methods, Co-design and Testing Phases, and Living Labs’ Governance. Ethical and legal considerations covered informed consent and regulatory aspects. All subtopics detailed relevant facilitators and barriers.
Conclusions:
Findings underscore the importance of a comprehensive plan on addressing real-world needs through a user-centered approach that considers cognitive limitations. The main findings highlight the importance of structured governance, ethical compliance, and user-centered approaches to enhance innovation. The research will impact policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders involved in dementia care, supporting the development of sustainable and effective Living Labs globally and enabling the innovation process.
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