Aplicaciones móviles de salud en el envejecimiento saludable de adultos mayores en el marco de atención primaria
Fecha
2024-05-17
Tipo
tesis
Autores
Rosales Sáenz, Rebeca
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Resumen
En la era de la tecnología móvil y el envejecimiento de la población, la atención primaria de salud enfrenta desafíos para promover el envejecimiento saludable en los adultos mayores. Las aplicaciones móviles de salud, herramientas prometedoras en un mundo digitalizado, pueden ayudar a superar estos desafíos. El presente estudio se centra en la evaluación de las aplicaciones móviles de salud diseñadas para abordar las necesidades de salud específicas de esta población que se encuentra en crecimiento rápido y constante. A través de una revisión sistemática exhaustiva de estudios internacionales y nacionales, se analizará la efectividad y el beneficio del uso de estas aplicaciones en la promoción del envejecimiento saludable. Además, se explorará la posibilidad de adaptar y hacer uso de estas tecnologías en el contexto de la atención primaria de Costa Rica, con los recursos con los que cuenta el Sistema Nacional de Salud actualmente.
Background: In an era characterized by both mobile technology advancement and a growing elderly population, primary healthcare systems confront significant challenges in promoting healthy aging among older adults. The proliferation of mobile health applications in this digitally driven age offers promising avenues for fostering healthy aging. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of mobile health applications tailored to address the distinctive health requirements of the rapidly expanding and evolving elderly demographic. Through an exhaustive systematic review of both international and national studies, the study seeks to assess the effectiveness and advantages of employing these applications in promoting healthy aging. Additionally, the study intends to explore the feasibility of adapting and implementing such technologies within the framework of primary healthcare in Costa Rica, considering the current resources available within the National Health System. Methods: This qualitative systematic review delves into the challenges and opportunities linked with the integration of health apps geared towards promoting healthy aging within primary care settings. Following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, databases such as PubMed, the Cochrane Library (specifically Medline), and Scopus, in conjunction with snowballing techniques, were utilized. Data from primary studies conducted over the past decade (January 2013 to January 2024) were gathered and scrutinized to mitigate random error and bias. Search strategies were meticulously tailored in both English and Spanish to align with the search structure and criteria of each database, employing Boolean operators (AND, OR) to refine the search and ensure the inclusion of pertinent studies. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies targeting individuals aged 65 and above, focusing on the utilization of mobile health apps for health promotion and healthy aging within primary care, published in either English or Spanish, and conducted globally or nationally. Considerations were also given to full-text accessibility and relevance to primary care contexts. Eligibility was determined based on the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) criteria, encapsulating older adults as the population, mobile health apps as the concept, and health promotion and healthy aging within various contexts such as hospitalization, daily life, home, or community settings. Although no restrictions were imposed on the study type, observational studies were prioritized for community-based or long-term intervention outcomes, while randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were favored for studies necessitating specific interventions. A narrative synthesis methodology was employed to encapsulate findings from the included studies, presenting a descriptive compilation of results and highlighting commonalities, disparities, and trends. Results: A total of 3 databases were searched. The searches yielded nearly 976 article titles and abstracts. After screening titles and abstracts, 176 articles were eligible for full-text review. 16 articles were selected using the citation and reference technique. 9 articles were removed due to duplication. 52 articles met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Conclusions: Current studies have primarily focused on health apps aimed at promoting health, preventive medicine, and improving accessibility, with a predominant focus on the European and Asian continents. However, most of these studies were based on surveys or focus groups with very homogeneous samples, making it difficult to extrapolate the results to populations with diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts. A significant finding is the scarcity of studies involving older adults from Latin America and the complete absence of research in this regard in Costa Rica. Therefore, it is essential for both the regional and national scientific communities to dedicate greater efforts to research in this field, as health apps represent an affordable, user-friendly method with multiple benefits for promoting active and healthy aging.
Background: In an era characterized by both mobile technology advancement and a growing elderly population, primary healthcare systems confront significant challenges in promoting healthy aging among older adults. The proliferation of mobile health applications in this digitally driven age offers promising avenues for fostering healthy aging. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of mobile health applications tailored to address the distinctive health requirements of the rapidly expanding and evolving elderly demographic. Through an exhaustive systematic review of both international and national studies, the study seeks to assess the effectiveness and advantages of employing these applications in promoting healthy aging. Additionally, the study intends to explore the feasibility of adapting and implementing such technologies within the framework of primary healthcare in Costa Rica, considering the current resources available within the National Health System. Methods: This qualitative systematic review delves into the challenges and opportunities linked with the integration of health apps geared towards promoting healthy aging within primary care settings. Following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, databases such as PubMed, the Cochrane Library (specifically Medline), and Scopus, in conjunction with snowballing techniques, were utilized. Data from primary studies conducted over the past decade (January 2013 to January 2024) were gathered and scrutinized to mitigate random error and bias. Search strategies were meticulously tailored in both English and Spanish to align with the search structure and criteria of each database, employing Boolean operators (AND, OR) to refine the search and ensure the inclusion of pertinent studies. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies targeting individuals aged 65 and above, focusing on the utilization of mobile health apps for health promotion and healthy aging within primary care, published in either English or Spanish, and conducted globally or nationally. Considerations were also given to full-text accessibility and relevance to primary care contexts. Eligibility was determined based on the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) criteria, encapsulating older adults as the population, mobile health apps as the concept, and health promotion and healthy aging within various contexts such as hospitalization, daily life, home, or community settings. Although no restrictions were imposed on the study type, observational studies were prioritized for community-based or long-term intervention outcomes, while randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were favored for studies necessitating specific interventions. A narrative synthesis methodology was employed to encapsulate findings from the included studies, presenting a descriptive compilation of results and highlighting commonalities, disparities, and trends. Results: A total of 3 databases were searched. The searches yielded nearly 976 article titles and abstracts. After screening titles and abstracts, 176 articles were eligible for full-text review. 16 articles were selected using the citation and reference technique. 9 articles were removed due to duplication. 52 articles met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Conclusions: Current studies have primarily focused on health apps aimed at promoting health, preventive medicine, and improving accessibility, with a predominant focus on the European and Asian continents. However, most of these studies were based on surveys or focus groups with very homogeneous samples, making it difficult to extrapolate the results to populations with diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts. A significant finding is the scarcity of studies involving older adults from Latin America and the complete absence of research in this regard in Costa Rica. Therefore, it is essential for both the regional and national scientific communities to dedicate greater efforts to research in this field, as health apps represent an affordable, user-friendly method with multiple benefits for promoting active and healthy aging.
Descripción
Palabras clave
“Aplicaciones móviles de salud”, “Envejecimiento saludable”, “Atención primaria”, “Adultos mayores”, “Sistema Nacional de Salud de Costa Rica”, “Promoción de la salud”, “Herramientas digitales de salud”, “Efectividad de las aplicaciones móviles”, “Mobile health applications,” “Healthy aging,” “Primary healthcare,” “Older adults,” “Costa Rican healthcare system,” “Health promotion,” “Digital health tools,” “Mobile app effectiveness”, Aplicaciones móviles de salud, Envejecimiento saludable, Atención primaria, Adultos mayores, Sistema Nacional de Salud de Costa Rica, Promoción de la salud, Herramientas digitales de salud, Efectividad de las aplicaciones móviles, Mobile health applications, Healthy aging, Primary healthcare, Older adults, Costa Rican healthcare system, Health promotion, Digital health tools, Mobile app effectiveness