Digital Technologies for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Older People: Scoping Review

Overview

Journal J Med Internet Res

Publisher JMIR Publications

Specialty Medical Informatics

Date 2023 Mar 23

PMID 36951896

Authors

Karina Karolina De Santis

Lea Mergenthal

Lara Christianson

Annalena Busskamp

Claudia Vonstein

Hajo Zeeb

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Digital technologies have the potential to contribute to health promotion and disease prevention in the aging world.

Objective: This study aims to identify digital technologies for health promotion and disease prevention that could be used independently by older people in nonclinical settings using a scoping review.

Methods: Through database (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and SCOPUS; to March 3, 2022) and manual searches (to June 14, 2022), 90 primary studies and 8 systematic reviews were included in this scoping review. The eligibility was based on the PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) criteria: (1) people aged 50 years or older (population), (2) any digital (health) technology (eg, smartphone apps, websites, virtual reality; concept), and (3) health promotion and disease prevention in daily life in nonclinical and noninstitutional settings (context). Data items included study characteristics, PCC criteria, opportunities versus challenges, and evidence gaps. Data were synthesized using descriptive statistics or narratively described by identifying common themes.

Results: The studies were published in 2005-2022 and originated predominantly from North America and Europe. Most primary studies were nonrandomized, reported quantitative data, and investigated effectiveness or feasibility (eg, acceptance or usability) of digital technologies in older people. The participants were aged 50 years to 99 years, predominantly female, affluent (ie, with high income, education, and digital competence), and intended to use or used digital technologies for a median of 3 months independently at home or in community settings. The digital technologies included mobile or nonmobile technologies or virtual reality. The studies used "modern devices" (eg, smartphones, wearables, or gaming consoles) or modern and "older devices" (eg, computers or mobile phones). The users interacted with digital technologies via websites, emails, text messages, apps, or virtual reality. Health targets of digital technologies were mobility, mental health, nutrition, or cognition. The opportunities versus challenges of digital technologies were (1) potential health benefits versus unclear or no benefits for some outcomes, (2) monitoring of health versus ethical issues with data collection and management, (3) implications for functioning in daily life (ie, potential to prolong independent living) versus unclear application for clinical management or care, (4) tailoring of technical properties and content toward older users versus general use, (5) importance of human support for feasibility versus other factors required to improve feasibility, (6) reduction of social isolation versus access to digital technologies, and (7) improvement in digital competence versus digital divide.

Conclusions: Various digital technologies were independently used by people aged 50 years or older for health promotion and disease prevention. Future studies should focus on (1) more diverse populations of older people, (2) new digital technologies, (3) other (clinical and care) settings, and (4) outcome evaluation to identify factors that could enhance any health benefits of digital technologies.

International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/37729.

Citing Articles

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Home Environment as a Therapeutic Target for Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases: Delivering Restorative Living Spaces, Patient Education and Self-Care by Bridging Biophilic Design, E-Commerce and Digital Health Technologies.

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From Steps to Context: Optimizing Digital Phenotyping for Physical Activity Monitoring in Older Adults by Integrating Wearable Data and Ecological Momentary Assessment.

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Can intelligent virtual assistants improve cognitive function in older adults? A two-wave mediation study.

Cai T, Ma S, Zhong R Digit Health. 2025; 11:20552076251317355.

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A scoping review and expert consensus on digital determinants of health.

van Kessel R, Seghers L, Anderson M, Schutte N, Monti G, Haig M Bull World Health Organ. 2025; 103(2):110-125H.

PMID: 39882497 PMC: 11774227. DOI: 10.2471/BLT.24.292057.

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