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Evidence summaries

Snoezelen (Multi-Sensory Stimulation) for Dementia

There is no evidence on the effectiveness of snoezelen (multi-sensory stimulation) for dementia. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 2 studies with a total of 246 subjects. Snoezelen, multi-sensory stimulation, provides sensory stimuli to stimulate the primary senses. The name is derived from two Dutch verbs, 'sniffen' and 'doezelen'. In one of the studies, 24-hour integrated snoezelen-care programme had positive effects on mood and behaviour in the study subjects during the intervention, but none of the studies had any significant post-intervention effects on behaviour, mood, cognition or communication/interaction.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by limitations in study quality, by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison) and by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes).

    References

    • Chung JC, Lai CK, Chung PM et al. Snoezelen for dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(4):CD003152. [Last assessed as up-to-date: 21 April 2008][PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords