Navigating Through Innovation in Elderly’s Health: A Scoping Review of Digital Health Interventions
Journal
Public Health Reviews
ISSN
2107-6952
Date Issued
2024-12-19
Author(s)
Fernando Soto
Anita Jasmen
Maurizio Mattoli
Oscar Urrejola
María Teresa Abusleme Lama
Type
journal-article
Abstract
<jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>Comprehensively map and summarize digital health initiatives for the elderly and caregivers.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Scoping review between April and May 2022 based on Joanna Briggs methodology. Databases used included PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL Plus, and Web of Science, along with grey literature and hand searches. Two reviewers independently conducted screening and eligibility phases, with a third resolving disagreements. Data were thematically analyzed.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The review included 421 documents. Most documents were published between 2013 and 2022, with a recent increase. Most studies, originating from high-income countries, focused on home applications and were mainly in the testing and validation stages. Telephones and computers were the predominant devices. Health objectives included monitoring, prevention, and treatment, with interventions utilizing directed communication and personal health monitoring for individuals, and telemedicine and decision support for healthcare providers.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Increasing integration of technology in older adults’ lives, along with their increasing proficiency, is driving a significant rise in digital health interventions. Despite this growth, further research in middle- and low-income countries, for caregivers and evaluating effectiveness and feasibility of these technological interventions is needed.</jats:p></jats:sec>
Subjects
caregiver
;
digital health
;
elderly
;
reviews
;
telemedicine