A SCOPING REVIEW OF BEHAVIOUR CHANGE THEORIES IN ADULTS WITHOUT DEMENTIA TO DEVELOP AND ADAPT THE ‘PHYT IN DEMENTIA’, A MODEL PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract

Research has established that exercise and physical activity can improve executive functioning, independence and quality of life in people with dementia. However, a dedicated theory explaining behaviour change in physical activity in people with dementia does not exist and current interventions are based on theoretical models which may not be applicable to / relevant for people with dementia . We aimed to develop a dedicated theoretical model, which can be used to inform effective interventions to promote physical activity in people with dementia. The development of the theoretical model was based on five phases: 1. Database searches to identify theories of behaviour change; 2. Description of the identified theories and their main constructs; 3. Synthesis of the constructs across theories, by aggregating similar constructs into umbrella constructs (or themes); 4. Adaptation of the umbrella constructs to dementia through use of interview data from the feasibility study of an intervention programme to promote independence and activity in people with dementia; 5. Development and explanation of the new model for physical activity in people with dementia (the ‘PHYT in dementia’- Physical Activity Behaviour change Theoretical model in dementia). We identified nine theories of behaviour change. Through synthesis of the theories' constructs and their adaptation to dementia, we derived twelve constructs, which affect behaviour change in dementia: Autonomy / control, motivation, self-efficacy, capability, expectations, support, personal beliefs, personal characteristics, characteristics of intervention, social opportunity, progress and physical infrastructure. The constructs were mapped onto the model ‘PHYT in dementia’, which we explained through a practical example.