Implementing Evidence-Based Interventions With Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Occupational Therapy
• Implementation Science

Background:

• The population of community-dwelling older adults is rapidly increasing.
• Effective implementation of evidence-based occupational therapy interventions for older adults is crucial but not well understood.
• Factors influencing intervention uptake into practice require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore strategies and factors associated with the adoption of older adult interventions into practice.
• To identify barriers, facilitators, and effective implementation approaches for evidence-based interventions.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted.
• Implementation science concepts guided the review process.
• Thirteen relevant articles were identified and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Barriers, facilitators, and strategies for implementing evidence-based older adult interventions were examined across the reviewed studies.
• Effective implementation strategies identified include training sessions, workshops, consultations, and outreach meetings.
• The review synthesized findings on practical approaches to intervention uptake.

Conclusions:

• Practitioners, administrators, and researchers should utilize strategies like workshops, consultations, fidelity vignettes, peer mentoring, and standardized training.
• These strategies are recommended for the effective implementation of research into practice for older adults.
• Adopting these approaches can enhance the translation of evidence into geriatric occupational therapy.