JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Older adults face a unique set of challenges and may experience a range of psychological comorbidities. Digital storytelling is an emergent tool for sharing and recording lived experiences and may have the potential to support wellbeing but is yet to be systematically reviewed for use amongst older adults.

Objective:

This review examined the methods for creating digital stories, the health-related outcomes associated with creating digital stories, and potential for implementing digital storytelling with older adults.

Methods:

We systematically searched electronic databases to identify articles published in English that reported on at least one health-related outcome of digital storytelling for participants aged 60 and above. Data were extracted and synthesized using a narrative approach and summarized in tables. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Results:

Eight studies were included in the review. Participants were primarily community-dwelling older adults living with dementia, involving family caregivers and/or professional care staff. Studies took various approaches to digital storytelling and reported diverse benefits associated with digital storytelling, including improvements in mood, memory, social engagement, and quality of relationships. Potential for implementation was not widely examined, although some studies presented evidence for acceptability and feasibility. Generally, studies were of high quality, despite the absence of comparator groups and confounder analyses.

Conclusions:

The evidence reviewed suggests that despite various approaches taken, digital storytelling shows promise as an effective approach for supporting wellbeing in older adults. Clinical Trial: PROSPERO 2019: CRD42019145922; International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/15512