JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Older adults face increasing health risks associated with aging and chronic disease, yet uptake of recommended clinical preventive services remains low. Digital health interventions have the potential to enhance access and engagement, but their effectiveness in older adult populations remains unclear.

Objective:

This systematic review aimed to examine the range and types of digital clinical preventive service interventions and assess their impact on preventive care uptake among older adults.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published in the last 10 years. Eligible studies included experimental and quasi-experimental designs evaluating digital interventions targeting community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older. Interventions focused on high-priority preventive services, including cancer screening and adult immunizations. Data were extracted using a standardized form and synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes.

Results:

Twenty-four studies involving over 1.3 million participants from 11 countries were included. Interventions used a range of digital tools, including telephone calls, text messages, patient portals, and video-based education. While some digital and automated interventions demonstrated modest improvements in preventive care uptake, results were mixed. Interventions incorporating personalized elements (e.g., tailored telephone counselling or in-person education) were generally more effective than generic, automated communications. Few studies reported on digital literacy support or intervention reach, and engagement with digital platforms was often low.

Conclusions:

Digital interventions can support modest improvements in preventive care uptake among older adults, particularly when personalized or combined with human interaction. However, assumptions of digital fluency and limited reporting on engagement constrain generalizability. Future research should prioritize inclusive design, detailed reporting, and strategies that address digital equity to better support older adult populations.