Educational effects of community service-learning involving older adults in nursing education: An integrative review

Community service-learning is a structured experiential learning approach in which students engage in service activities in response to identified community need(s). Service-learning programmes are developed to promote understanding of societal issues and facilitates critical learning for the learners, with emphasis on learning through reflection.

To synthesize findings from published and grey literature related to the educational effects of community service-learning involving older adults in nursing education and evaluate the quality of existing service-learning programmes.

Integrative review following Whittemore and Knafl's framework to analyse and synthesize a broader range of evidence.

Six databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC and ProQuest) were systematically searched from inception until 30 July 2021. Reference lists of relevant studies and reviews were also assessed for eligible studies. We also searched for grey literature and dissertations in ProQuest and Google Scholar.

The 5-step method was used: problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, analysis, and presentation. Included studies were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool checklist. Service-learning programmes were evaluated using the Service-Learning Quality Assessment Tool.

A total of 21 studies were included. Educational benefits of service-learning in the three domains of learning (cognitive, affective and psychomotor) were identified. Nine service-learning programmes achieved adequate quality and implementation of service-learning principles, while 12 exhibited emergent quality and implementation.

Service-learning provides various benefits in nursing education. Existing empirical studies do not always follow established service-learning principles, and the quality of evidence is considered low. Future studies should use more rigorous methodologies and improve the reporting of research.