Personal profile
Research interests
Good health and care increasingly depend on person-centred implementation of evidence-based technologies. I conduct research at the intersection of psychology, healthcare and technology, to understand the cycle of technological innovation, from bench to bedside and back again.
As an EU-funded Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow, my current research concerns the evaluation of technologies for improving psychosocial wellbeing (social health) of community-dwelling people with dementia. I am responsible for carrying out the FindMyApps study, which is the world's largest randomized controlled trial of a technological intervention for social health in dementia. This is a mixed methods study, in which we collect qualitative and quantitative data in order to achieve three research objectives: main effects analyses; cost-effectiveness analyses; and implementation research in the form of a process evaluation (in line with UK MRC guidelines).
In addition to my research, I am grateful to also grasp many teaching opportunities. I supervise master student dissertations in subjects including psychology and clinical medicine, amongst others and deliver lectures on dementia and society. I also supervise multidisciplinary groups of students from Saxion University of Applied Sciences as part of their Smart Solutions Semester.
In previous roles I have worked on:
- Product development and user-testing of digital communication aids for the GP's consulting room (Vesalian Ltd, London UK)
- Improving the quality of advanced care planning in old age psychiatry (NHS North-West London, UK)
- Writign and policy skills devleopment for bachelor students interested in global health (Polygeia, Cambridge UK)
Related documents
Education/Academic qualification
Master, Clinical Medicine MB BChir (equivalent of MD), University of Cambridge
Sept 2013 → Jul 2016
Award Date: 1 Jul 2016
Bachelor, Behavioural neuroscience, University of Cambridge
Oct 2010 → Jun 2013
Award Date: 1 Jun 2013
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A Digital Photo Activity Intervention for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia and Their Carers: Mixed Methods Process Evaluation
Tan, J. R. O., Neal, D. P., Vilmen, M., Boersma, P., Ettema, T. P., Gobbens, R. J. J., Sikkes, S. A. M. & Dröes, R.-M., 2025, In: JMIR formative research. 9, e56586.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile48 Downloads (Pure) -
Digital assistive technologies for community-dwelling people with dementia: A systematic review of systematic reviews by the INTERDEM AI & assistive technology taskforce
Neal, D., Craven, M. P., Cross, J., Evans, S., Fox, C., Oksnebjerg, L., Alexandre, I., Aryankhesal, A., Astell, A., Begde, A., Ditton, A., Engelsma, T., Gregersen, R., Heins, P., Hogervorst, E., Kafadar, A. H., Poos, J., Robinson, L., Sezgin, D. & Smaling, H. J. & 4 others, , 2025, In: Digital health. 11, p. 20552076251362353Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review
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Effective for Whom? A Review of Psychological and Social Intervention Recommendations in European Dementia Care Guidelines Through the Lenses of Social Health and Intersectionality
Neal, D., Bartels, S. L., Berdai Chaouni, S., Caprioli, T., Comas-Herrera, A., Chattat, R., Diaz, A., Dröes, R.-M., Faulkner, T., Felding, S. A., Franco-Martin, M., Giebel, C., Gonçalves-Pereira, M., Hesse, S., Holmerova, I., Koh, W. Q., Mena, E., Misonow, J., Mkrtchyan, A. & Müller, N. & 9 others, , 1 Apr 2025, In: Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland). 15, 4, 457.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile30 Downloads (Pure) -
Patients’ Experienced Usability and Satisfaction With Digital Health Solutions in a Home Setting: Instrument Validation Study
Oudbier, S. J., Smets, E. M. A., Nieuwkerk, P. T., Neal, D. P., Nurmohamed, S. A., Meij, H. J. & Dusseljee-Peute, L. W., 2025, In: JMIR medical informatics. 13, e63703.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile45 Downloads (Pure) -
A Process Evaluation of a digital Photo-Activity for nursing home residents and their carers (Preprint)
Tan, J. R. M., Neal, D. P., Vilmen, M., Boersma, P., Ettema, T. P., Gobbens, R., Sikkes, S. A. M. & Droes, R. M., 21 Jan 2024, In: JMIR Preprints.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic
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Alzheimer Europe Conference 2023
Neal, D. (Speaker)
17 Oct 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation › Academic
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IPA congres 2023
Neal, D. (Speaker)
29 Jun 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation › Academic
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Implementing a tablet-based intervention to improve social health: preliminary results from a process evaluaiton of the FindMyApps cost and effectiveness study
Neal, D. (Speaker), Pistone, D. (Speaker), Ettema, T. (Speaker), Muller, M. (Speaker), Finnema, E. (Speaker), Graff, M. (Speaker), Dijkstra, K. (Speaker) & Dröes, R.-M. (Speaker)
29 Nov 2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation › Academic
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Strategies to Design Technology Promoting Social Participation of People With Dementia and Their Caregivers
Neal, D. (Speaker)
14 Nov 2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation › Academic
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Read & understood? User-centered design of a cognitively accessible privacy policy for the FindMyApps intervention.
Neal, D. (Speaker)
14 Nov 2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation › Academic
Prizes
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APH Aging & Later Life Innovation Award
Dröes, R.-M. (Recipient), Ettema, T. (Recipient), Neal, D. (Recipient) & Muller, M. (Recipient), Sept 2020
Prize › Academic
Press/Media
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Ouderen zijn bang voor privacy-voorwaarden en worden zo buitengesloten
06/12/2021
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: interview
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Niet op ‘ja’ durven klikken: hoe los je onzekerheid bij ouderen over privacy-info in gezondheids-apps op?
30/11/2021
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: interview
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NIET GELEZEN EN ONBEGREPEN: DUIDELIJKE PRIVACY-INFORMATIE NODIG
12/10/2021
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: publicengagement
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FindMyApps: ipads voor betere kwalieit van leven mensen met dementie
03/05/2021
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: publicengagement
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Deelnemers onderzoek Apps voor dementie
Neal, D., Ettema, T. & Dröes, R.-M.
15/12/2020
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: publicengagement