e-Counseling for Fall Prevention in Older Adults: Scoping Review

Falls are a major contributor to injury, disability, and mortality among older adults worldwide. Digital health-based e-counseling has emerged as a scalable strategy to support fall prevention by addressing physical, behavioral, and cognitive risk factors.

This scoping review aimed to map the scope, characteristics, and outcomes of e-counseling interventions for fall prevention among adults aged 60 years or older.

Guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews), we searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, and ProQuest for studies published between January 2019 and May 2025. Eligible studies evaluated digital or telehealth-based counseling interventions for fall prevention. Data were synthesized descriptively, and methodological quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

A total of 13 studies were included, comprising randomized controlled trials, feasibility studies, qualitative research, and retrospective cohorts conducted across Asia, Europe, and North America. e-Counseling modalities included virtual reality, mobile health application, teleconsultations, and wearable-triggered feedback systems. Reported outcomes included reductions in fall incidence ranging from 15% to 90.9%, improvements in balance and mobility, increased fall risk awareness, and enhanced self-efficacy. Interventions incorporating cultural tailoring and digital literacy support demonstrated higher engagement and adherence.

e-Counseling appears to be a promising and scalable approach for fall prevention in older adults, with benefits across physical and behavioral domains. Future research should focus on long-term effectiveness, equitable access in low- and middle-income settings, and integration into routine health care systems.