⚡ Quick Summary
This bibliometric analysis highlights the growing significance of Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) in dementia care, revealing a steady increase in related publications, particularly in areas like mobile health and artificial intelligence. The study emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and addresses critical knowledge gaps in lower-income regions.
🔍 Key Details
- 📊 Total records analyzed: 704
- 🌍 Countries involved: 66, with the UK and USA leading
- 📅 Publication trend: Steady increase over time
- 📰 Leading journal: Journal of Medical Internet Research
- 🔍 Focus areas: Mobile health, telehealth, cognitive interventions
🔑 Key Takeaways
- 📈 Growth in publications related to DHTs and dementia care is evident.
- 💡 Systematic reviews dominate the research landscape.
- 🌐 High-income countries are the primary contributors to this research.
- 🔄 Duplication of efforts is a concern due to the diversity of reviews.
- 🤝 Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for advancing dementia care.
- 🕵️♂️ Knowledge gaps exist, particularly in lower-income regions.
- 🚀 Future research should focus on underrepresented areas and evidence-based practices.
- 🌟 Policy implications suggest the need for an international collaborative task force.
📚 Background
Dementia affects approximately 55 million individuals worldwide, posing significant challenges to healthcare systems and families. The integration of Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) offers promising avenues for improving care and support for those living with dementia and their caregivers. Understanding the current research landscape is essential for identifying effective interventions and addressing existing gaps.
🗒️ Study
This study employed a bibliometric analysis as part of a systematic review protocol, utilizing databases such as MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus to assess the scientific production related to DHTs in dementia care. The analysis aimed to map global research initiatives and evaluate trends in publications, authorship, and institutional contributions.
📈 Results
The analysis revealed that the majority of the 704 records were systematic reviews, with a notable focus on mobile health, telehealth, and computer-based cognitive interventions. The Journal of Medical Internet Research emerged as the leading source of reviews and citations. The findings indicate a consistent increase in publications over time, although the diversity of reviews has led to some duplication of scientific efforts.
🌍 Impact and Implications
The results of this study underscore the critical role of DHTs in enhancing dementia care. By identifying trends and knowledge gaps, the research highlights the need for collaborative efforts among researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers. Addressing these gaps, particularly in lower-income regions, is essential for advancing global dementia care and ensuring equitable access to innovative technologies.
🔮 Conclusion
This bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of DHTs in dementia care. The steady increase in publications, particularly in innovative areas such as artificial intelligence and sensor-based technologies, reflects a growing recognition of the importance of these tools. Future research should prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration and focus on addressing knowledge gaps to enhance dementia care worldwide.
💬 Your comments
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Use of Digital Health Technologies for Dementia Care: Bibliometric Analysis and Report.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dementia is a syndrome that compromises neurocognitive functions of the individual and that is affecting 55 million individuals globally, as well as global health care systems, national economic systems, and family members.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the status quo of scientific production on use of digital health technologies (DHTs) to support (older) people living with dementia, their families, and care partners. In addition, our study aimed to map the current landscape of global research initiatives on DHTs on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support of people living with dementia and their caregivers.
METHODS: A bibliometric analysis was performed as part of a systematic review protocol using MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Epistemonikos, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar for systematic and scoping reviews on DHTs and dementia up to February 21, 2024. Search terms included various forms of dementia and DHTs. Two independent reviewers conducted a 2-stage screening process with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Eligible reviews were then subjected to a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer to evaluate document types, authorship, countries, institutions, journal sources, references, and keywords, creating social network maps to visualize emergent research trends.
RESULTS: A total of 704 records met the inclusion criteria for bibliometric analysis. Most reviews were systematic, with a substantial number covering mobile health, telehealth, and computer-based cognitive interventions. Bibliometric analysis revealed that the Journal of Medical Internet Research had the highest number of reviews and citations. Researchers from 66 countries contributed, with the United Kingdom and the United States as the most prolific. Overall, the number of publications covering the intersection of DHTs and dementia has increased steadily over time. However, the diversity of reviews conducted on a single topic has resulted in duplicated scientific efforts. Our assessment of contributions from countries, institutions, and key stakeholders reveals significant trends and knowledge gaps, particularly highlighting the dominance of high-income countries in this research domain. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the critical importance of interdisciplinary, collaborative teams and offer clear directions for future research, especially in underrepresented regions.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a steady increase in dementia- and DHT-related publications, particularly in areas such as mobile health, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and sensor-based technologies interventions. This increase underscores the importance of systematic approaches and interdisciplinary collaborations, while identifying knowledge gaps, especially in lower-income regions. It is crucial that researchers worldwide adhere to evidence-based medicine principles to avoid duplication of efforts. This analysis offers a valuable foundation for policy makers and academics, emphasizing the need for an international collaborative task force to address knowledge gaps and advance dementia care globally.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024511241; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=511241.
Author: [‘Abdulazeem H’, ‘Borges do Nascimento IJ’, ‘Weerasekara I’, ‘Sharifan A’, ‘Grandi Bianco V’, ‘Cunningham C’, ‘Kularathne I’, ‘Deeken G’, ‘de Barros J’, ‘Sathian B’, ‘Østengaard L’, ‘Lamontagne-Godwin F’, ‘van Hoof J’, ‘Lazeri L’, ‘Redlich C’, ‘Marston HR’, ‘Dos Santos RA’, ‘Azzopardi-Muscat N’, ‘Yon Y’, ‘Novillo-Ortiz D’]
Journal: JMIR Ment Health
Citation: Abdulazeem H, et al. Use of Digital Health Technologies for Dementia Care: Bibliometric Analysis and Report. Use of Digital Health Technologies for Dementia Care: Bibliometric Analysis and Report. 2025; 12:e64445. doi: 10.2196/64445