Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Homebound older adults (HOAs) are particularly vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness, which engender a poorer physical and mental health, and greater cognitive decline. The purpose of this review is to map the literature to identify potential technological strategies that reduce social isolation in HOAs, and to understand facilitators and barriers for adoption and implementation.
METHODS: Six databases including PubMed (MEDLINE), Google Scholar, Cochrane Database, EBSCOHost, National Library ProQuest, Web of Science, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research were searched for relevant articles. Peer-reviewed literature published in English from Jan 2014 to Feb 2024 that employed technological strategies applicable to HOAs and assessed social isolation or connectedness as an outcome measure were included.
RESULTS: 107 studies were reviewed and classified into different technological categories based on their functions and features. A social technology framework encompassing delivery, hardware, software, content, training, and support was conceptualized with core characteristics identified from the reviewed technological strategies. Cost and complexity of technology, and resource commitment were identified as barriers while user-friendliness, content curation and a supportive ecosystem may facilitate the adoption of a technological strategy to address social isolation in HOAs.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for early and concerted effort to identify HOAs, provide technology training, and empower them to tap on the digital world to complement and/or supplement social interactions. Development of cost-effective and rapid-to-implement technology is vital for HOAs who are at highest risk to social isolation.
METHODS: Six databases including PubMed (MEDLINE), Google Scholar, Cochrane Database, EBSCOHost, National Library ProQuest, Web of Science, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research were searched for relevant articles. Peer-reviewed literature published in English from Jan 2014 to Feb 2024 that employed technological strategies applicable to HOAs and assessed social isolation or connectedness as an outcome measure were included.
RESULTS: 107 studies were reviewed and classified into different technological categories based on their functions and features. A social technology framework encompassing delivery, hardware, software, content, training, and support was conceptualized with core characteristics identified from the reviewed technological strategies. Cost and complexity of technology, and resource commitment were identified as barriers while user-friendliness, content curation and a supportive ecosystem may facilitate the adoption of a technological strategy to address social isolation in HOAs.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for early and concerted effort to identify HOAs, provide technology training, and empower them to tap on the digital world to complement and/or supplement social interactions. Development of cost-effective and rapid-to-implement technology is vital for HOAs who are at highest risk to social isolation.
摘要：
背景：居家老年人（HOA）特别容易受到社会孤立和孤独的影响，导致身体和心理健康较差，和更大的认知能力下降。这篇综述的目的是绘制文献，以确定减少HOA社会孤立的潜在技术策略，并了解采用和实施的促进者和障碍。
方法：六个数据库，包括PubMed(MEDLINE)，谷歌学者，Cochrane数据库,EBSCOHost,国家图书馆ProQuest,WebofScience,并在医学互联网研究杂志上搜索相关文章。包括2014年1月至2024年2月以英语发表的同行评审文献，这些文献采用了适用于HOA的技术策略，并评估了社会隔离或连通性作为结果指标。
结果：对107项研究进行了回顾，并根据其功能和特征将其分为不同的技术类别。一个包含交付的社会技术框架，硬件,软件,内容,培训,和支持的概念化与核心特征确定从审查的技术战略。技术的成本和复杂性，和资源承诺被确定为障碍，而用户友好性，内容策展和支持性生态系统可能有助于采用技术策略来解决HOA中的社会孤立问题。
结论：需要尽早和协调一致的努力来确定HOA，提供技术培训,并使他们能够利用数字世界来补充和/或补充社交互动。开发具有成本效益和快速实施的技术对于面临最高社会孤立风险的HOA至关重要。
方法：六个数据库，包括PubMed(MEDLINE)，谷歌学者，Cochrane数据库,EBSCOHost,国家图书馆ProQuest,WebofScience,并在医学互联网研究杂志上搜索相关文章。包括2014年1月至2024年2月以英语发表的同行评审文献，这些文献采用了适用于HOA的技术策略，并评估了社会隔离或连通性作为结果指标。
结果：对107项研究进行了回顾，并根据其功能和特征将其分为不同的技术类别。一个包含交付的社会技术框架，硬件,软件,内容,培训,和支持的概念化与核心特征确定从审查的技术战略。技术的成本和复杂性，和资源承诺被确定为障碍，而用户友好性，内容策展和支持性生态系统可能有助于采用技术策略来解决HOA中的社会孤立问题。
结论：需要尽早和协调一致的努力来确定HOA，提供技术培训,并使他们能够利用数字世界来补充和/或补充社交互动。开发具有成本效益和快速实施的技术对于面临最高社会孤立风险的HOA至关重要。
