Dyadic technology-based interventions for community-dwelling people with dementia and their informal caregivers in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES: Over 60% of people living with dementia reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited awareness and scarce supportive services can intensify caregiver burden. Although dyadic technology-based interventions (DTIs) show promise in high-income countries, their scope in LMICs remains unclear. This scoping review aimed to identify the types of DTIs used for dementia dyads in LMICs and to map reported outcomes, with particular attention to caregiver burden. METHODS: This review followed JBI methodology for scoping reviews and was reported according to PRISMA-ScR. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched without date restrictions. RESULTS: Twelve studies from six middle-income countries were included. Five technological platforms were identified: videoconferencing-based interventions, mobile applications, computer software, robotics, and ambient intelligence. Most DTIs were multifunctional, commonly supporting telemedicine or telerehabilitation and targeted health information or therapeutic content. Outcomes were heterogeneous and primarily focused on feasibility, acceptability, usability, and implementation rather than health-related outcomes. Most studies did not report caregiver burden directly, though two case studies suggested that ambient intelligence may reduce caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: Evidence on DTIs in LMICs is limited, fragmented, and largely excludes low-income countries. Further rigorous, context-sensitive studies on DTIs are needed to explore feasibility and effectiveness.