The impact of digital health on loneliness and social isolation for older adults: A scoping review protocol

Abstract

As populations age and healthcare systems increasingly adopt digital health technologies and alternative models of service delivery, understanding their broader social impact is becoming increasingly important. Digital health technologies are transforming how older adults access and manage healthcare services and may help alleviate pressure on healthcare systems. However, there is limited research examining whether digital health technologies mitigate or exacerbate experiences of loneliness and social isolation among older adults. Loneliness refers to the subjective feeling of inadequate social connection, while social isolation denotes the objective absence of social relationships. Both are associated with poorer physical and mental health, increased healthcare utilisation, and become more prevalent in later life. This protocol outlines a scoping review that will map the existing literature on the relationship between digital health technologies and loneliness and social isolation among older adults. The review will identify the types of digital health technologies that have been studied, examine how loneliness and social isolation have been defined and measured, and highlight gaps in the current evidence base to inform future research, policy, and practice. To our knowledge, this will be the first scoping review to comprehensively examine the intersection of digital health, loneliness, and social isolation in older adults. The protocol has been preregistered on the Open Science Framework (OSF Registries, available at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/92FPE ).