Designing community-level integral interventions for active ageing: a systematic review from the lens of community-based participatory research

Abstract

Abstract Background: While community-level interventions for promoting active ageing have received growing attention and there is a trend to leverage technology to support traditional physical or social interventions, little hands-on guidance exists for designing these interventions. Methods: The literature review focused on community-level interventions promoting active ageing that integrated physical, social, and digital elements, referred to as integral interventions. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. In addition, as Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles have been widely applied for co-designing with the community on interventions that address complex health and social problems, the included interventions were analysedabductively based on the CBPR principles. Results:Twenty-four design considerations were generated under eight categories. Further reflection identified the interrelated nature of these design considerations and pinpointed the gaps in current research. The study highlights the urgency and importance of sharing recruitment methods and resource allocation details, recording and reporting collaboration specifics, clarifying stakeholder representation, fostering co-learning between communities, adopting an incremental approach, promoting inclusivity, and disseminating findings to stakeholders beyond academia. Conclusions: This study offers valuable insights and practical guidance to researchers and practitioners engaged in developing community-level integral interventions for active ageing. The findings also serve as a starting point for accumulating knowledge and practice in co-designing integral interventions for active ageing at the community level. The next crucial phase involves evaluating these design considerations within a real-world case to assess their applicability and identify potential areas for improvement.