Table 2.

Key outcomes of included studies (N=8).

Study	Measures or tools used	Mood and affect	Memory	Quality of relationships	Social connectedness	Other health-related outcomes
Capstick et al [48]	BCCa coding frame (DCMb), BWPc, and Arnstein Ladder of Citizen Participation	—d	—	—	Level of social citizenship increased by approximately 3 rungs.	Significant increase in positive well-being scores (P<.05) and significant decrease in negative indicators of well-being (P<.05) at midpoint. Well-being did not significantly decrease at 1 week after DSe; participants spent greater percentage of time engaged in reminiscence, conversation, and creative expression from before test to midpoint and after test.
Filoteo et al [49]	ETf, STAIg, HADSh, NQOLi, and CQj	Statistically significant improvements on ET, STAI, HADS, and CQ from before test to after test (P<.05).	—	—	—	No statistically significant improvement on NQOL from before test to after test (P>.05).
Subramaniam and Woods [33]	QOL-ADk, AMIl, GDSm, QCPRn, and open-ended questionnaire	Improvement in scores on GDS at 4 weeks following the completion of DS.	Improvement in scores on AMI at 4 weeks following the completion of DS.	Improvement in scores on QCPR at 4 weeks following the completion of DS; participants, family members, and staff reported that the DS triggered memories and positive affect for the participant and enhanced interaction with family members and staff.	—	Improvement in scores on QOL-AD at 4 weeks following the completion of DS.
Crete-Nishihata et al [50], Damianakis et al [51], and Smith et al [32]	Semistructured interview and video recordings of screening sessions	Participants, family members, and staff reported emotional impacts of DS (eg, pleasure, sadness, and satisfaction); instances of positive emotion (n=291), negative emotion (n=6), and positive and negative emotion simultaneously (n=16).	Participants, family members, and staff reported that DS triggered long-term memories.	Participants, family members, and staff reported enhanced communication with family members and staff.	—	Participants, family members, and staff reported benefits for participants’ sense of self.
Critten and Kucirkova [52]	Interviews, field notes, and observations	Researchers reported the process was enjoyable for all participants and they experienced positive feelings of confidence, empowerment, and increased self-esteem.	—	—	—	—
O’Philbin [53]	Interviews	Participants and family members reported pride and enjoyment.	Participants and family members reported DS evoked memories.	—	—	—
Park et al [54]	Unstructured interviews, field notes, and audio recordings of sessions	Participants and family members reported enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment.	—	Researchers observed that participants were engaged in their relationships with their family members and the facilitator.	—	—
Sehrawat et al [55]	Open-ended questionnaire and unstructured interviews	—	—	—	Participants reported valued connections with young people and reported an increase in social connectedness and network size.	Participants found the process cathartic and therapeutic; however, they reported minimal to no change in physical and mental health.

^aBCC: behavior category code.

^bDCM: Dementia Care Mapping.

^cBWP: Bradford Well-being Profile.

^dNot addressed in the study.

^eDS: digital story.

^fET: emotional thermometer.

^gSTAI: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

^hHADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

ⁱNQOL: Neuro–Quality of Life Depression Scale-modified.

^jCQ: caregiver questionnaire.

^kQOL-AD: Quality of Life in Alzheimer Disease scale.

^lAMI: Autobiographical Memory Inventory.

^mGDS: Geriatric Depression Scale.

ⁿQCPR: Quality of the Caregiving Relationship Questionnaire.