Telehealth Delivery of Evidence-Based Intervention Within Older Adult Populations: A Scoping Review.
Selena E Washington, Rebecca M Bollinger, Emma Edwards and 2 others
PMID 37322873WHAT IT FOUND
Telehealth delivery of evidence-based occupational therapy for older adults is feasible and often preferred by clients, but it does not consistently outperform in-person care.
Success depends on adapting activities for the screen and ensuring clients have reliable technology access and support.
Key findings
01Most included studies used video-conferencing platforms like Zoom or Skype, while only two used telephone or text-based delivery.
02Virtual cognitive stimulation therapy was feasible but required adaptations; activities involving physical objects engaged participants more than those relying on screen sharing or complex instructions.
03A dyadic dementia care program delivered via telehealth achieved similar clinical benefits to in-home delivery, though it significantly reduced travel time for therapists and clients.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The review included only peer-reviewed English-language articles from six databases, potentially missing relevant studies in other languages or platforms. Sample sizes were small, with 70% of studies having fewer than 25 participants, limiting generalizability. The included studies varied widely in design and quality, making direct comparisons difficult. The review may not reflect the full scope of telehealth practices currently occurring in clinical settings, as many providers have not published their methods or outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The work was supported by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation Planning Grant Collective.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume telehealth is equally effective for all interventions or populations. The review found that success depended heavily on adapting the intervention to the medium, such as avoiding screen-shared tasks for cognitive impairment, and that many studies had very small samples. Feasibility does not guarantee superior clinical outcomes compared to in-person care.