Methodologies and methods for the development, evaluation and implementation of psychosocial interventions for dementia: protocol for a scoping review.

D'Andrea F, Bartels SL, Markaryan M, Masterson-Algar P, Bernal AN, De Bruin SR, Chirico I, Flynn A, Garcia L, Gebhard D, Handley M, Janssen N, Roes M, Stephens N, Teesing G, Van den Block L, Windle K, Moniz-Cook E, Graff M. Methodologies and methods for the development, evaluation and implementation of psychosocial interventions for dementia: protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open. 2026 Apr 24;16(4):e114584. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-114584.

Introduction: Research on psychosocial interventions for dementia demonstrates increased rigour and robustness. However, if we are to influence practice, beyond results from randomised controlled trials, a variety of types and sources of evidence is needed. The Medical Research Council (MRC) framework offers a valuable guide for developing, evaluating and implementing complex interventions, to facilitate integration of research into practice. There is limited knowledge of how researchers design, evaluate and implement psychosocial intervention studies in dementia, using the MRC framework. This scoping review aims to: (1) identify the methodological and methods trends, use and gaps in the development, evaluation and implementation of psychosocial interventions for dementia, and (2) determine if and how the MRC six core elements were considered and applied in studies. 

Methods and analysis: Six databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) will be searched for studies published from 2015 (when MRC process guidance was published) to 2025. Identified deduplicated citations will be imported into Covidence software, where up to 40% of title/abstracts will be double screened by independent reviewers. ASReview will be used to rank articles by relevance, with a stopping criterion of 250 consecutive irrelevant articles. Full texts will be reviewed by a single reviewer and those excluded will be checked by a second reviewer. Data extraction will include study aim/objective (ie, to develop/adapt; test feasibility/pilot; evaluate; implement); methodology and methods applied; information on which MRC six core elements were considered (yes/no), and if so, how they were addressed (ie, qualitative details). A narrative synthesis, alongside graphical representations (eg, table/bar charts/histograms), will be used to synthesise findings on methodologies and methods mapped onto the MRC framework.

Ethics and dissemination: This secondary analysis scoping review does not require ethics approval. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication(s), seminars, webinars, conferences, postgraduate dementia programmes, blogs, commissioner briefings and social media. The findings will provide a state-of-the-art overview of current practices; advance methods/methodology such as informing a Delphi consensus study on appropriate research approaches; and guide researchers in application of the MRC framework to widen the scope of dementia care evidence for practice improvements. 

Registration: Submitted to Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/S56NQ. ;

Keywords: Dementia; Feasibility Studies; Implementation Science; Methods; Psychosocial Intervention; Review. 

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.