Key Factors for Locating Missing Persons Living with Dementia: A Delphi Study Among Swedish Police Experts

Background: Persons living with dementia (PLWD) are at an increased risk of going missing, with an elevated risk of harm. In Sweden, thousands of PLWD go missing annually, and the police are responsible for locating them. However, there is limited knowledge about the key factors that contribute to effective search efforts. Therefore, this study aimed to identify these key factors as expressed by police experts. Method: Using the Delphi technique, this exploratory study sought consensus among 43 Swedish police search experts over three rounds. The consensus was set at ≥70%. Results: Of the initial 73 items described by individual police experts, 53 reached consensus among the expert group. Five categories were identified: Information, Search Management, Search Tactics, Knowledge, and Collaboration. Discussion/conclusion: Limited situational awareness and lack of structure can hamper police search efforts when PLWD go missing. Knowing the person, critical partners, and the terrain all enhance search effectiveness.