JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The demand for wearable technologies has surged in recent years, demonstrating remarkable potential, especially in health promotion. However, there is currently a lack of clarity about the types and roles of wearable devices in elderly healthcare.

Objective:

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview and categorize the current research conducted with wearable devices for health promotion and disease prevention in elderly people.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic literature review using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) framework and synthesized the results. Six databases were searched to identify wearable devices reported in studies from inception to July 28, 2024. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were independently screened by two reviewers. Any discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer when necessary. The types of results from relevant studies were systematically mapped into predefined categories.

Results:

Based on the inclusion criteria, 109 studies were included. The most commonly reported health targets of wearable devices were mobility, mental health, fall-related, arrhythmia detection, activity recognition, disease diagnosis and sleep monitoring. Most studies were application design study and observational study, and in European countries and the United States, and 51 studies of the participants were healthy. The most popular anatomical landmarks for wearable placement were the wrist, waist, chest. Two types of wearable device evaluation approaches were used including metrics for performance evaluation in a controlled laboratory and clinical setting and evaluations involving end users in real-world settings. The opportunities presented by wearable devices are countered by multiple challenges, including data availability and reliability, technical limitations, utility and user acceptance, cost, security and privacy, performance gaps and challenges.

Conclusions:

Wearable devices hold great promise for health promotion in elderly healthcare, but several hurdles remain for full adoption. A broader and more diverse group of elderly people is needed to identify the most beneficial wearables and to optimize the technology. Further studies are required to statistically synthesize real-world performance and evaluation results. This review aims to help non-medical professionals and policymakers better understand wearable technology in future studies. Clinical Trial: None