Table 4.

Data extraction table for included studies

Author(s) and year	Study design	Aim of the study	Type of intervention	Sample details	Main barriers	Key facilitators	Adherence data
van Uffelen et al. 2009 [44]	RCT with a factorial design	To examine feasibility of regular moderate-intensity walking program, to assess association of exercise attendance and cognition	1 year, twice a week, 60 min, moderate intensity walking program vs. low intensity activity program	122	Lack of interest Weather Walking difficulties Health-related problems	Keeping up to date with participants’perceptions about the program and how they are coping with exercise intensity Attending at least one session – trying exercise	Median attendance 71%
van Uffelen 2008 [46]	Double blind randomized placebo-controlled trial	To examine effect of aerobic exercise or vitamin B supplementation on cognitive function	1 year, twice weekly, group based, moderate-intensity walking program vs. low intensity placebo activity program and vitamin B supplementation or placebo	152	Illness Too busy Location too far Uncomfortable intensity Health-related problems	Living with a partner	Median session attendance 63%
Bantry White and Montgomery 2016 [35]	Mixed-methods study	Wandering, getting lost and hence being restricted from walking can be a barrier to walking outdoors alone	Self-administered questionnaire	14 professionals	Factors associated with getting lost and of harm while missing	Ensuring safe physical environment and appropriate landscape and surfaces to walk on, schedule adverse risks objectively – safe walking assessment, tailoring walks and assessments to individual circumstances	Not reported
Author(s) and year	Study design	Aim of the study	Type of intervention	Sample details	Main barriers	Key facilitators	Adherence data
King et al. 2018 [37]	Randomized trial	To evaluate feasibility of implementing The Enhance Mobility Program	8 months, group exercise and walking (at least 20 min, at least 3 times a week)	28	Space reallocation Adequate staffing and time needed to recruit clients to participate Lower MMSE	Social aspect of group walking Refreshment offer at the end of walking session	Participation on walking program ranged 0–76 days out of 96 days with the walking program (M = 20.2, SD 19.6)
McCurry et al. 2010 [42]	Clinical trial	To examine factors associated with adherence to walking program	Walking 30 continuous mina day	66 dyads	Depression Higher behavioral disruption scores (RMBPC)	Spousal caregiver Lower perceived stress	47% participants were still walking 5 or more days a week at 6-months follow up
Lowery et al. 2014 [41]	Single blind parallel group trial	To evaluate effectiveness of a simple dyadic exercise regimen	Individually tailored progressive walking regimen, 20–30 min, at least 5 times a week	131 dyads	Low adherence levels	Carers‘involvement Overall BPSD (behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia) lower if adherence is maintained	116 completed the trial (89%) Prescribed frequency of walks was achieved by 31% of treatment group, prescribed intensity in 53% of walks
Author(s) and year	Study design	Aim of the study	Type of intervention	Sample details	Main barriers	Key facilitators	Adherence data
Rantakokko et al. 2017 [43]	Life-Space Assessment, Self-reported ability to walk 2 km was assessed	Task modifications in walking may help community-dwelling older people to postpone life-space mobility decline		848/816/761	Walking difficulty, becoming home bound	Self reported modifications in walking, using mobility devices
Phinney et al. 2016 [36]	Ethnographic study, participant observation	To explore how community-based programming can promote social citizenship,	Every day leisure group walk in neighborhood	15	Emotionally safe environment, overstressing dementia, medicalising/overmedicalising environment, not interacting with participants, not being able to accommodate weaker members,	Social view on the walking program – being part of the community, belonging, non medicalised atmosphere, normal everyday activities, keeping the focus off dementia, emotionally safe environment, outdoors & being able to observe and react to things happening around, enjoyment of each other’s company, sharing cards with public explaining aims of this particular group makes them more welcome in the community, group resting on principles of compassion and empowerment	Not reported
Author(s) and year	Study design	Aim of the study	Type of intervention	Sample details	Main barriers	Key facilitators	Adherence data
Alphen et al. 2016 [34]	Systematic review	To reveal factors that facilitate or hamper participation of dementia patients on PA	Review including also walking programs	7 studies with 39 dementia patients and 36 caregivers	Physical and mental limitations Difficulties with guidance Organization of PA by caregivers	Service providers familiar with exercise benefits Strategies to avoid health problems Convenient and personalized options of PA	Not reported
ROG HARRISON, KIM STRACHAN, SHEILA THORBURN 2017 – stirling dementia project grey lit	Grey literature – report	To evaluate the second year of a dementia friendly walking group project, to explore the attendees’ experiences of attending the walking groups.	Every day leisure group walks in urban, suburban and rural areas.	6 walking groups – 1 person with dementia and 1 carer from each group for individual interviews. Focus group interviews involved all the walk attendees and volunteer walk leaders in each walking group (numbers not reported)	Environmental issues making walking routes challenging/inaccessible Not having funded walk organisers Challenges posed by joining a walking group for the first time	Therapeutic impact of being outdoors Having an effective walk leader and ensuring funding remained in place to employ walk leaders Social support provided by the group for both people with dementia and their carers Having accessible walking routes Individual tailoring of walking routes Having inclusive/mixed groups, rather than making walks exclusively for people living with dementia	Not reported