Digital Creative Art Interventions (DCAIs) are innovative approaches to art interventions using digital technology, which can improve older adults' health. However, a comprehensive summary of the implementation of this intervention among older adults is lacking.
To summarise the deliveries and categories of DCAIs, review their feasibility and roles in older adults' healthcare, and explore the barriers and facilitators to implementing DCAIs in older adults.
Scoping review.
This scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework, and PRISMA-ScR was used to guide the report.
PubMed, Embase, EBSCOhost, Web of Science and Cochrane Library on 26 February 2024.
Thirty-one studies were selected in this review. We summarised the deliveries and categories of DCAIs in older adults. Besides, we cleared DCAIs to offer music, dance, museum, photo collage, drama, visual art interaction and mixed art intervention to older adults, primarily through videoconferencing or mobile applications. The five health promotion roles were physiological health enhancer, psychological caregiver, socialisation supporter, cognitive promoter and life optimiser. Most older adults believed DCAIs were not only feasible and acceptable, but they also met some barriers such as technological problems, problems brought about by older adults' decline in functioning, experience and privacy.
Despite the unique advantages of DCAIs, continuous improvements are needed. In the future, researchers and healthcare workers should focus on platform improvements, increasing interactivity, diversifying formats and ensuring security and privacy.
This review found that DCAIs offered new approaches to treatment options for older adults' physical and mental health. Therefore, it is recommended that they be continuously optimised and put into clinical practice.
No patient or public contribution.
This study summarised the DCAIs and provides the new approach for health promotion in older adults.
OSF (https://osf.io/m62x9/, registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/4ZGE6)
To explore the perspectives of community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia on exercise engagement and adherence.
Sarcopenia is prevalent among community-dwelling older adults and is associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Encouragingly, it is a treatable and potentially reversible condition through exercise interventions. However, studies on this population's views on exercise are scant, thus limiting the design and delivery of tailored, sustainable exercise interventions in primary care.
A descriptive qualitative study.
Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 27 community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia from four community care centres in China between October 2023 and February 2024. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Four main themes with their respective subthemes were identified from the data analysis and described as: (1) limited capability to identify and engage in appropriate exercise; (2) various motivations influenced by personal values, resilience and habits; (3) exercise behaviour shaped by environmental and social factors; (4) expectations for community-based exercise programmes.
Older adults with sarcopenia often misbelieve muscle issues to be normal ageing, leaving their condition undiagnosed and unmanaged. Limited information about appropriate exercises leads them to engage in simple, unstructured activities. Motivation levels and contextual factors influence their exercise engagement and adherence. Nurse-led tailored, evidence-based and group-based programmes, complemented by home-based exercise resources, are needed to address challenges and support long-term adherence.
This study provides new insights into the perspectives, challenges and expectations of exercise in this specific population. Findings inform nurse-led exercise programmes in primary care that meet the needs and preferences of this population.
This study follows the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies.
Participant interviews offered valuable perspectives on exercise engagement and adherence.