Implementation barriers and facilitators of digital health interventions for older adults with multimorbidity: a...

Although digital health technologies may support chronic disease management, their adoption, integration into care, continued use, and scale-up among older adults with multimorbidity remain difficult in real-world settings. This scoping review aimed to map the types of digital health interventions used for this population, identify implementation barriers and facilitators, and summarize implementation-related support elements that may inform future practice and policy.

We conducted a scoping review based on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Six electronic databases were searched from database inception to 23 June 2026 to locate relevant empirical studies published in English and Chinese.

Twenty articles were included, and implementation-related factors were mapped across five pragmatic domains: individual, technological, care delivery, social, and health system factors. Reported barriers included limited digital literacy, complex interface designs, and fragmented care support. Reported facilitators included age-friendly design, personalized training, and collaborative support networks involving healthcare providers and families.

The implementation of digital health for this population is shaped by a complex interplay of multi-level factors. Future research should prioritize implementation science-based and collaborative models to enhance accessibility and adherence. Our findings may inform the design of more accessible and age-friendly digital care models and support the work of community and public health nurses alongside other care stakeholders. The mapped findings describe reported implementation determinants and should not be interpreted as evidence that any individual function or support element is independently effective.