title: An examination of the psychometric properties and efficacy of Dementia Care Mapping.
abstract: This paper offers a critique of Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) as a practice development and research tool by examining the psychometric properties and efficacy of DCM as a method for evaluating and enhancing care quality and quality of life. Based on a review and analysis of the published empirical studies utilizing DCM, it becomes apparent that there is mixed support for the tool's validity and reliability. More importantly, there is a need for additional studies specifically examining the range of related assessments to provide conclusive evidence for DCM's relevance, applicability and reliability as a practice and research tool in dementia care. The paper identifies methodological issues of implementation and use of DCM, i.e., coding practices, mapping duration. Also, a summary of the tool's strengths and limitations in practice and research settings, areas for improvement and future research avenues is provided.
authors: Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, Canada.
authors: Heather A
authors: HA
authors: Cooke
authors: Habib
authors: H
authors: Chaudhury
mesh_terms: D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: care quality; dementia care mapping; evaluation; psychometrics