Kurzfassung

BACKGROUND: There has been noticeable research emphasis on the effects of museum-based programs as valuable community support for people with dementia and their primary caregivers.

RESEARCH QUESTION AND AIM: This umbrella review outlines the effects of museum-based community programs on health-related aspects of people with dementia and their primary caregivers and aims to synthesise existing evidence of museum-based programs and give directions for practice and implementation research.

METHOD AND MATERIAL: An umbrella review was undertaken following the guideline of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Therefore 6 databases (CINAHL Complete, PubMed, Medline Complete, SocINDEX, Psych & Behav Sci and the Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews) were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses in April/May 2023 and as a follow-up in October 2023. The results were critically appraised by three reviewers.

RESULTS: A total of five systematic reviews and one meta-analysis were identified. Due to the heterogeneity of the primary studies no consistent statistically robust proof of effects of museum-based community programs currently exists. Qualitative studies support the effects towards improvement of quality of life, mood and other noncognitive parameters.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: While the heterogeneity of study designs prevents a critical evaluation of the effects and therefore a reliable comprehensible analysis, the results from different studies, including randomized controlled trials, support museum-based programs as a valuable resource for participation in day to day care and social prescribing. For future research adapted and extended methodological considerations and approaches, such as mixed methods designs are recommended.