Characteristics of Occupational Therapy Interventions to Promote Healthy Aging: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Healthy aging is a pressing public health priority. Focusing on what people do every day may be a meaningful approach to lifestyle change, suggesting a need for occupation therapy interventions to promote healthy aging. A preliminary database search was conducted, and no current or underway systematic or scoping reviews on the topic were identified. Developing an overview of studies of occupational therapy interventions to promote healthy aging is a necessary first step to understanding the existing knowledge and increasing the impact of future interventions. This scoping review will build on previously conducted reviews.

Objective: This scoping review will identify the following: (1) what occupational therapy interventions exist for promoting healthy aging in community-dwelling adults? and (2) what are the intervention characteristics, their evaluated outcome, and the impact observed?

Methods: This protocol was reviewed by 2 occupational therapists as part of a patient and public involvement consultation. The review will consider all studies and publications of occupational therapy focused on promoting healthy aging in community-dwelling adults who are aged 18 years and older. Databases to be searched are AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, JBI EBP database, MEDLINE, OAlster, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, ProQuest nursing and allied health source, PubMed, and Science Direct. Studies published in any language will be included. Titles and abstracts will be screened against the inclusion criteria using Covidence (Veritas Health Innovation). Potentially relevant studies will be retrieved in full and assessed against the inclusion criteria. No date limiters will be used. Study selection will be completed by 2 independent reviewers. Data will be extracted using a data extraction tool, including descriptive characteristics of the participants including age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Data will be charted using the TIDieR (Template for Intervention Description and Replication) checklist in alignment with the review objectives. The scoping review will be reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) statement.

Results: The research began in October 2023, and the results are expected to be published in 2024.

Conclusions: This scoping review will produce valuable information about occupation-based interventions to promote healthy aging to support the development of an occupational therapy intervention.

Trial registration: Open Science Framework 5k36d; https://osf.io/5k36d/.

International registered report identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/55198.

Keywords: aging; aging population; healthy aging; intervention; interventions; lifestyle change; occupation-based approach; occupational therapists; occupational therapy; older people; public health; scoping review; well-being.