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Perspectives and Experiences of Family Caregivers Using Supportive Mobile Apps in Dementia Care: Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Research
Haifei Shen, Yi Han, Wen Shi, Jiangxuan Yu, Xueqi Shan, Hongyao Wang, Junjie Wang. JMIR mhealth and uhealth, 2025-06-18
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
A preliminary search yielded 4772 studies, of which 12 (0.25%) met the criteria. The included studies were from 7 different countries or regions, of which the only low- or middle-income country was Brazil. The studies involved a total of 232 family caregivers, most of whom were older adults and female. The integration of extracted content resulted in 4 themes: dynamic changes in value perception-complex attitudes toward mobile app adoption; from tools to partners-a technology-empowered multidimensional support system for family caregivers; external and internal barriers-challenges in family caregivers' use of mobile apps; and person-centered design-future directions for improving mobile apps. This study found that family caregivers' attitudes toward using supportive mobile apps are influenced by their perceived value of mobile apps and their caregiving burden. In addition, such supportive mobile apps serve as valuable tools for family caregivers to enhance their caregiving abilities and efficiency, alleviate the burden of care, improve negative emotions, foster social connections, and promote self-care. Future mobile app design needs to address obstacles such as design flaws, family caregivers' lack of technological literacy, time constraints, concerns about privacy breaches, and other device-related issues, with particular attention to the ease of use of mobile apps. Meanwhile, developers need to commit to designing personalized and multifunctional mobile apps as well as promote online collaboration among members of the care network. Overall, our study offers an important reference for developing person-centered supportive mobile apps for family caregivers of persons with dementia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024510905; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024510905.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Shen, H., Han, Y., Shi, W., Yu, J., Shan, X., Wang, H., et al. (2025). Perspectives and Experiences of Family Caregivers Using Supportive Mobile Apps in Dementia Care: Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Research. JMIR mhealth and uhealth. https://doi.org/10.2196/65983
Vancouver
Shen H, Han Y, Shi W, Yu J, Shan X, Wang H, et al. Perspectives and Experiences of Family Caregivers Using Supportive Mobile Apps in Dementia Care: Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Research. JMIR mhealth and uhealth. 2025. doi:10.2196/65983. PMID: 40532203.
BibTeX
@article{shen2025-40532203,
author = {Shen, Haifei and Han, Yi and Shi, Wen and Yu, Jiangxuan and Shan, Xueqi and Wang, Hongyao and Wang, Junjie},
title = {{Perspectives and Experiences of Family Caregivers Using Supportive Mobile Apps in Dementia Care: Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Research}},
journal = {JMIR mhealth and uhealth},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.2196/65983},
pmid = {40532203},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/65983}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- A preliminary search yielded 4772 studies, of which 12 (0.25%) met the criteria.
- The included studies were from 7 different countries or regions, of which the only low- or middle-income country was Brazil.
- The studies involved a total of 232 family caregivers, most of whom were older adults and female.
- The integration of extracted content resulted in 4 themes: dynamic changes in value perception-complex attitudes toward mobile app adoption; from tools to partners-a technology-empowered multidimensional support system for family caregivers; external and internal barriers-challenges in family caregivers' use of mobile apps; and person-centered design-future directions for improving mobile apps.
- This study found that family caregivers' attitudes toward using supportive mobile apps are influenced by their perceived value of mobile apps and their caregiving burden.
Why it matters
This meta-synthesis of 12 qualitative studies found that family caregivers' use of supportive mobile apps is influenced by their perceived value of the apps and their caregiving burden, and that such apps can support caregiving abilities, emotions, social connections, and self-care. It identifies design barriers such as lack of technological literacy, time constraints, and privacy concerns.
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Study details
- Participants232
- Effect size0.25%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 42 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 44 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JMIR mhealth and uhealth) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | JMIR mhealth and uhealth: journal h-index 148 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 232 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 12 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Junjie Wang holds only 4 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Zhejiang Chinese Medical University: institution h-index 228 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40532203) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 42 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 42 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 44 out of 100. |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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