Help-seeking behaviours among older adults: a scoping review protocol

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Disparities
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Older adults face unmet healthcare needs, yet their help-seeking behaviors are under-researched.
• Cultural factors significantly influence health help-seeking in ethnic minority older adults.
• Limited research exists on diverse older adult populations' engagement with healthcare services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of global literature on factors influencing older adults' health help-seeking behaviors.
• To explore how cultural values and backgrounds impact ethnic minority older adults' help-seeking.
• To identify research gaps and inform future healthcare intervention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus from January 2005 onwards.
• Inclusion of studies on adults aged 65+ seeking help for physical or mental health challenges.
• Data charting and synthesis using quantitative counts and qualitative narrative synthesis.

Main Results:

• Synthesis of current literature on older adult and ethnic minority older adult help-seeking behaviors.
• Identification of key factors influencing help-seeking across diverse older populations.
• Highlighting of specific cultural influences on health service utilization.

Conclusions:

• The review synthesizes existing knowledge on help-seeking behaviors in older adults, particularly ethnic minorities.
• Identifies critical research gaps in understanding culturally specific help-seeking patterns.
• Provides a foundation for developing targeted interventions to address diverse older adult healthcare needs.