Abstract Background: Population aging is a global phenomenon affecting all countries. Although it is accompanied by a decline in functional abilities, it is mainly characterized by a higher prevalence of chronic diseases and various disorders, placing considerable pressure on health systems. In this context, digital health represents a promising opportunity to improve the health and well-being of older adults while optimizing the quality and efficiency of health care delivery. However, the literature reports high attrition and low adherence rates, which limit the potential benefits of these interventions. Enhancing engagement among older adults in digital health interventions has therefore become a key lever for improving their effectiveness. To achieve this, reliable measurement tools that consider the needs and capacities specific to older adults are essential. Such tools would support the design of true person-centered digital health interventions. Yet, existing instruments often fail to capture the specificities of this population, and limited research has examined engagement measurement tools specifically targeting older adults. Objective: This scoping review aims to map self-reported tools designed to measure engagement with digital health interventions that have been developed and/or validated for adults aged 65 years and older, and to analyze the conceptualization underlying their development. Methods: This study will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. Eligible studies will include those measuring engagement with digital health interventions among participants aged 65 years and older. The review will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting framework. The search strategy, developed in collaboration with an information specialist, will combine the keywords “engagement,” “digital health,” and “older adults,” along with a sensitive search filter derived from the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines for measurement tools. The following databases will be searched: Embase, Medline (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), and CINAHL (EBSCO). Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently and in duplicate. Discrepancies will be resolved through consensus or by consulting a senior researcher. Extracted data will include study characteristics, instrument properties, and conceptualization frameworks. A descriptive synthesis will be conducted, and instruments will be categorized according to the three-component model of engagement—behavioral, cognitive, and affective dimensions. Expected Results: The results will enhance understanding of engagement conceptualization among older adults and inform the development of digital health technologies and interventions tailored to their functional capacities and specific needs. Conclusions: This review will provide a comprehensive overview of engagement measurement tools for digital health interventions targeting older adults and the conceptual models underpinning them. Findings are expected to facilitate better understanding and comparison of engagement-focused interventions among populations aged 65 years and older.
Da et al. (Wed,) studied this question.