Interventions to prevent elder abuse in the community: a mixed-methods systematic review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Nursing Research

Background:

• Elder abuse is a significant public health issue affecting community-residing older adults.
• Existing literature highlights a need for effective prevention strategies.
• Interventions are crucial for safeguarding vulnerable elderly populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify interventions aimed at preventing elder abuse.
• To analyze the types and effectiveness of proposed prevention strategies.
• To inform nursing practice and future research in elder abuse prevention.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted.
• Studies published between January 2004 and December 2019 were included from multiple databases (LILACS, IBECS, CUMED, CINAHL, MEDLINE, SciELO).
• Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Main Results:

• Seven studies were included in the final analysis.
• Interventions were categorized into primary (health education, support groups) and secondary (mental health care for victims).
• Both primary and secondary interventions demonstrated positive outcomes.

Conclusions:

• A notable gap exists in the number of intervention studies for elder abuse prevention.
• All reviewed interventions yielded positive results.
• The identified interventions are feasible for implementation in nursing care settings.