Implementing Dementia-Friendly Videos in Everyday Care: A Qualitative Study of Frontline Staff Experiences

Dementia-friendly videos are adapted audiovisual resources designed to support care for people living with moderate to severe dementia. Although evidence suggests these videos can enhance comfort, engagement, and communication, little is known about how frontline healthcare providers integrate them into everyday practice. This qualitative implementation study examined the barriers and facilitators experienced by frontline healthcare providers when implementing dementia-friendly videos in real-world clinical environments. The videos were introduced over an 18-month period in two contrasting care settings in Vancouver, Canada: an acute hospital geriatric unit and a long-term care dementia unit. Nineteen interdisciplinary healthcare providers, including nurses, care aides, and rehabilitation and recreation staff, participated in semi-structured interviews and focus groups after using the videos in routine care. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted, followed by a later-stage comparison with relevant constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). A participatory research team, including people living with dementia and family caregivers, contributed to study design, interpretation, and theme refinement. Findings showed that time pressures and staffing constraints limited workflow compatibility, particularly because many residents required assistance to operate devices. Limited equipment and unstable internet access further hindered consistent use. Facilitators included motivated staff who acted as catalysts for adoption, the perceived advantages of dementia-friendly videos over general platforms, and staff observations of positive impacts on emotional regulation and participation. Seeing benefits in practice, such as calming distressed patients, reinforced continued use. The study highlights the importance of integrating dementia-friendly videos into existing workflows rather than treating them as additional tasks. Ensuring adequate equipment, supporting motivated staff, and attending to cultural and linguistic relevance are essential for sustainable implementation. These findings offer practical guidance for embedding person-centred digital tools into dementia care.