JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Long-term care sector has been profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, disproportionately harming older adults and heightening their social isolation and loneliness (SIL). Congregated and in need of around-the-clock assistance, interaction with older adults, which used be in-person, switched to virtual platforms, i.e. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) (e.g., video chating) to fill the gap. Thus, ICTs applications (e.g., Telephone, Zoom, Teams, video chating…) have been overwhelmingly used by families to maintain residents’ social capital and subsequently adress alternative to keep the social capital and subsequently reduce their SIL.

Objective:

This systematic review intends to synthesize the effects of ICT interventions to address SIL in LTCH residents during the COVID-19 period.

Methods:

We will include studies published in Chinese, English and French from late 2019 onewards. Beyond the traditional of search approach, of the 12 electronic data bases to be queried, four are Chinese. We will considered quantitative studies, including randomised controlled trials and quasi‐RCTs, quasi-experimental, cohort, cross-sectional, before and after, and intervention studies. Besides, qualitatives and mixed methods literature will also be considered. Using the two-person approach, two authors will blindly screen eligible articles, extract data, and assess risk of bias. In order to enhance the first round screening, a pilot-tested algorithm will be used. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion with a third author. Results will be presented as structured summaries of the included studies. We planned to conducted a meta-analysis.

Results:

Virtualizing communications through ICT applications becomes a promising new avenue to maintain connections and capitalize ties with families to address SIL in LTCHs residents over the Covid19 pandemic.

Conclusions:

This review is needed as a step toward more context-pertinent and high-quality programs other interventions initiatives during the Covid-19 and beyond. Findings will inform macro-level policy makers as well as researchers, frontline managers, and families as well, as this new avenue will remain in post-Covid-19.