Developing Quality Criteria for Community-Based Loneliness Interventions in Older Adults: An Evidence-Informed...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gerontology
• Health Promotion

Background:

• Community-based interventions for older adult social isolation lack systematic quality assessment.
• Effective quality assessment is crucial for public health impact and program improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop evidence-informed quality criteria for community-based interventions addressing social isolation in older adults.
• To create a comprehensive framework for planning, implementing, and evaluating these interventions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature searches for guidelines and evidence syntheses on social isolation interventions.
• Quality assessment using Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR 2).
• A transdisciplinary approach involving a stakeholder panel and a two-round Delphi process.

Main Results:

• Developed 39 evidence-informed quality criteria organized into four lifecycle domains: Programme Conditions, Planning, Implementation, and Results.
• Integrated evidence from clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, and health promotion principles.
• The framework was developed through participatory stakeholder engagement.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework provides a comprehensive tool for assessing and improving community-based interventions for social isolation in older adults.
• Enhances accountability and program improvement capacity for practitioners and policymakers.
• Highlights the importance of systematic development and stakeholder engagement in creating quality assessment tools.