e-Health Interventions for Promoting Physical Activity in Aging Adults: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Digital Health
• Public Health

Background:

• E-health interventions are increasingly used to promote physical activity (PA) in older adults.
• The aging population faces unique challenges in maintaining adequate PA levels.
• Digital health solutions offer scalable approaches to support healthy aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize e-health modalities and strategies for promoting PA in adults aged 50 and older.
• To identify common intervention components and interaction modes used in e-health PA programs.
• To highlight gaps in current research regarding the effectiveness of different e-health formats.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of major biomedical databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, PubMed) from 2012-2023.
• Inclusion of studies focusing on e-health interventions for PA promotion in individuals aged 50+.
• Narrative synthesis of data extracted from 81 eligible studies.

Main Results:

• A wide variety of e-health methods and interaction modes were identified for promoting PA in older adults, irrespective of health status.
• Asynchronous methods (web programs, apps, monitors) were prevalent (71.6%), often used for behavior change initiation.
• Synchronous methods (videoconferencing) were used for real-time supervision and exercise demonstration.

Conclusions:

• E-health interventions present a versatile platform for enhancing PA in older adults.
• Further research is required to compare different e-health modalities and identify barriers/facilitators for optimal intervention selection.
• Evidence-based guidance is needed to select the most effective e-health strategies for motivating older adults' regular exercise.