Abstract
Introduction
Reminiscence therapy is an alternative to pharmaceutical intervention provided during long-term care, especially for individuals with dementia. However, the effects of reminiscence therapy in dementia care remain inconclusive.
Aim
The goal of this study is to examine the effects of reminiscence therapy implementation in people with dementia.
Design
Systematic literature review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.
Methods
This study searched systematically using 6 databases. The eligibility criteria included patients with dementia, applied reminiscence therapy, randomised controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies, and published in the English language. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to calculate the pooled effects of reminiscence therapy. Stata 16.0 was used for statistical analysis.
Result
A total of 29 studies met the eligibility criteria, including 3,102 participants. Overall, reminiscence therapy increased cognitive functions and quality of life and decreased depression and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Implication for Practice
Reminiscence therapy may be considered a useful non-pharmacological intervention for people with dementia living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities. A standard protocol for reminiscence therapy may be necessary for future studies.