BACKGROUND
With the rapid expansion of wearable technologies, there is increased interest in their utility for passive data collection applications in aging research. Wearables can be specifically beneficial to research featuring people with dementia and their families who have burdens that can make both study participation and reliable data collection more difficult, especially as dementia progresses. However, population-specific issues affecting the success of wearables for data collection can include remembering to wear a device, fluctuating acceptance of the device or study participation, and reliance on strained caregivers. Better understanding of how research with wearables can address these and other issues is necessary to enhance participant buy-in and sustained wearing for better quality dementia research.
OBJECTIVE
We undertook a systematic evaluation of contemporary wearables research to describe this population's wearables experiences, desired qualities, and protocol needs.
METHODS
We used the PRISMA 2020 guide to systematic reviews and searched three scholarly databases using medical subject heading (MeSH) terms for papers published since 2018 featuring the use or discussion of wearable devices for persons with dementia. We screened 1757 abstracts and retained 58 for full-text review.
RESULTS
We present synthesized preferences, barriers, and facilitators to wearables buy-in and adherence in dementia research. A total of 29 factors were categorized into four overarching categories aligned with study development: device selection, protocol considerations, enhancing recruitment, and promoting adherence.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings inform researcher guidelines for wearable device selection and protocol design to enhance the utility of wearables in future longitudinal research featuring persons with dementia and their caregivers.