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Digital interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults: An evidence and gap map

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Listed:
  • Vivian Welch
  • Elizabeth T. Ghogomu
  • Victoria I. Barbeau
  • Sierra Dowling
  • Rebecca Doyle
  • Ella Beveridge
  • Elisabeth Boulton
  • Payaam Desai
  • Jimmy Huang
  • Nour Elmestekawy
  • Tarannum Hussain
  • Arpana Wadhwani
  • Sabrina Boutin
  • Niobe Haitas
  • Dylan Kneale
  • Douglas M. Salzwedel
  • Roger Simard
  • Paul Hébert
  • Christopher Mikton

Abstract

Background Social isolation and loneliness are more common in older adults and are associated with a serious impact on their well‐being, mental health, physical health, and longevity. They are a public health concern highlighted by the COVID‐19 pandemic restrictions, hence the need for digital technology tools to enable remotely delivered interventions to alleviate the impact of social isolation and loneliness during the COVID‐19 restrictions. Objectives To map available evidence on the effects of digital interventions to mitigate social isolation and/or loneliness in older adults in all settings except hospital settings. Search Methods We searched the following databases from inception to May 16, 2021, with no language restrictions. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo via Ovid, CINAHL via EBSCO, Web of Science via Clarivate, ProQuest (all databases), International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS) via ProQuest, EBSCO (all databases except CINAHL), Global Index Medicus, and Epistemonikos. Selection Criteria Titles and abstracts and full text of potentially eligible articles were independently screened in duplicate following the eligibility criteria. Data Collection and Analysis We developed and pilot tested a data extraction code set in Eppi‐Reviewer and data were individually extracted and coded based on an intervention‐outcome framework which was also used to define the dimensions of the evidence and gap map. Main Results We included 200 articles (103 primary studies and 97 systematic reviews) that assessed the effects of digital interventions to reduce social isolation and/or loneliness in older adults. Most of the systematic reviews (72%) were classified as critically low quality, only 2% as high quality and 25% were published since the COVID‐19 pandemic. The evidence is unevenly distributed with clusters predominantly in high‐income countries and none in low‐income countries. The most common interventions identified are digital interventions to enhance social interactions with family and friends and the community via videoconferencing and telephone calls. Digital interventions to enhance social support, particularly socially assistive robots, and virtual pets were also common. Most interventions focused on reducing loneliness and depression and improving quality of life of older adults. Major gaps were identified in community level outcomes and process indicators. No included studies or reviews assessed affordability or digital divide although the value of accessibility and barriers caused by digital divide were discussed in three primary studies and three reviews. Adverse effects were reported in only two studies and six reviews. No study or review included participants from the LGBTQIA2S+ community and only one study restricted participants to 80 years and older. Very few described how at‐risk populations were recruited or conducted any equity analysis to assess differences in effects for populations experiencing inequities across PROGRESS‐Plus categories. Authors' Conclusions The restrictions placed on people during the pandemic have shone a spotlight onto social isolation and loneliness, particularly for older adults. This evidence and gap map shows available evidence on the effectiveness of digital interventions for reducing social isolation or loneliness in older adults. Although the evidence is relatively large and recent, it is unevenly distributed and there is need for more high‐quality research. This map can guide researchers and funders to consider areas of major gaps as priorities for further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Vivian Welch & Elizabeth T. Ghogomu & Victoria I. Barbeau & Sierra Dowling & Rebecca Doyle & Ella Beveridge & Elisabeth Boulton & Payaam Desai & Jimmy Huang & Nour Elmestekawy & Tarannum Hussain & Arp, 2023. "Digital interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(4), December.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:camsys:v:19:y:2023:i:4:n:e1369
    DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1369
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vivian Welch & Elizabeth Tanjong Ghogomu & Victoria I. Barbeau & Elisabeth Boulton & Sabrina Boutin & Niobe Haitas & Dylan Kneale & Douglas M. Salzwedel & Roger Simard & Paul Herbert & Christopher Mik, 2022. "PROTOCOL: Digital interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), September.
    2. Asiyeh Salehi & Elham Salehi & Mahsa Mosadeghi-Nik & Sally Sargeant & Farhad Fatehi, 2021. "Strengthening positive social pathways via digital social applications in individuals with social skills deficits: A scoping review," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(6), pages 779-787, September.
    3. Snilstveit, Birte & Vojtkova, Martina & Bhavsar, Ami & Gaarder, Marie, 2013. "Evidence gap maps -- a tool for promoting evidence-informed policy and prioritizing future research," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6725, The World Bank.
    4. Baptiste Isabet & Maribel Pino & Manon Lewis & Samuel Benveniste & Anne-Sophie Rigaud, 2021. "Social Telepresence Robots: A Narrative Review of Experiments Involving Older Adults before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-26, March.
    5. Howard White & Bianca Albers & Marie Gaarder & Hege Kornør & Julia Littell & Zack Marshall & Christine Mathew & Terri Pigott & Birte Snilstveit & Hugh Waddington & Vivian Welch, 2020. "Guidance for producing a Campbell evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), December.
    6. Mary Ann Jarvis & Anita Padmanabhanunni & Jennifer Chipps, 2019. "An Evaluation of a Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioral Therapy mHealth-Supported Intervention to Reduce Loneliness in Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-14, April.
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