Publication Trends in Reablement - A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Reablement is a multidisciplinary intervention supporting independence in daily activities.
• Scientific interest in reablement has surged recently.
• A comprehensive overview of international reablement publications is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• Map the volume, growth, and geographical distribution of reablement publications.
• Identify publication types, designs, and trends.
• Identify knowledge gaps in peer-reviewed reablement literature.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review using the Arksey and O'Malley framework.
• Searched five electronic databases without language restrictions.
• Data extracted and analyzed using descriptive and thematic approaches.

Main Results:

• 198 articles published between 1999 and August 2022 from 14 countries were identified.
• Research predominantly originates from Western countries, notably Norway.
• Most publications employed empirical and quantitative designs.

Conclusions:

• Reablement publications show expanding breadth in originating countries, populations, and research designs.
• This review contributes to understanding the current research front in reablement.
• Identified knowledge gaps can guide future research directions.