TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Can communication technologies reduce loneliness and social isolation in older people? A scoping review of reviews
JO  - International journal of environmental research and public health
A1  - Döring, Nicola
A1  - Conde, Melisa
A1  - Brandenburg, Karlheinz
A1  - Broll, Wolfgang
A1  - Gross, Horst-Michael
A1  - Werner, Stephan
A1  - Raake, Alexander
SP  - e11310
EP  - e11310
VL  - 19
IS  - 18
N2  - BACKGROUND: Loneliness and social isolation in older age are considered major public health concerns and research on technology-based solutions is growing rapidly. This scoping review of reviews aims to summarize the communication technologies (CTs) (review question RQ1), theoretical frameworks (RQ2), study designs (RQ3), and positive effects of technology use (RQ4) present in the research field. <br><br>METHODS: A comprehensive multi-disciplinary, multi-database literature search was conducted. Identified reviews were analyzed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework. A total of N = 28 research reviews that cover 248 primary studies spanning 50 years were included. <br><br>RESULTS: The majority of the included reviews addressed general internet and computer use (82% each) (RQ1). Of the 28 reviews, only one (4%) worked with a theoretical framework (RQ2) and 26 (93%) covered primary studies with quantitative-experimental designs (RQ3). The positive effects of technology use were shown in 55% of the outcome measures for loneliness and 44% of the outcome measures for social isolation (RQ4). <br><br>CONCLUSION: While research reviews show that CTs can reduce loneliness and social isolation in older people, causal evidence is limited and insights on innovative technologies such as augmented reality systems are scarce.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1661-7827
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811310
ID  - ref1
ER  -