Technology-based interventions for health challenges older women face amid COVID-19: a systematic review protocol

Zhaohui Su¹, Ali Cheshmehzangi^{2

3}, Barry L Bentley^{4

5}, Dean McDonnell⁶, Sabina Šegalo⁷, Junaid Ahmad⁸, Hengcai Chen⁹, Lori Ann Terjesen¹⁰, Emme Lopez¹¹, Shelly Wagers¹², Feng Shi¹³, Jaffar Abbas¹⁴, Caifeng Wang¹⁵, Yuyang Cai¹⁶, Yu-Tao Xiang¹⁷, Claudimar Pereira da Veiga¹⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Institute for Human Rights, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China. suzhaohuiszh@yeah.net.
² Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315100, China.
³ Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 739-8530, Japan.
⁴ Cardiff School of Technologies, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK.
⁵ Collaboration for the Advancement of Sustainable Medical Innovation, University College London, London, UK.
⁶ Department of Humanities, South East Technological University, Carlow, R93 V960, Ireland.
⁷ Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, 71000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
⁸ Rufaidah Nursing College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
⁹ Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, 315100, China.
¹⁰ National Women's History Museum, Alexandria, USA.
¹¹ UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, USA.
¹² Department of Criminology, University of South Florida St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, USA.
¹³ Department of Research and Development, Shanghai United Imaging Intelligence, Shanghai, China.
¹⁴ Antai College of Economics and Management, and School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
¹⁵ Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 280 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
¹⁶ School of Public Health, China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
¹⁷ Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China. ytxiang@um.edu.mo.
¹⁸ Fundação Dom Cabral - FDC, Av. Princesa Diana, 760 Alphaville, Lagoa dos Ingleses, Nova Lima, MG, 34018-006, Brazil. claudimar.veiga@gmail.com.

PMID: 36514147
PMCID: PMC9746565
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-022-02150-9

Technology-based interventions for health challenges older women face amid COVID-19: a systematic review protocol

Zhaohui Su et al. Syst Rev. 2022.

. 2022 Dec 13;11(1):271.

doi: 10.1186/s13643-022-02150-9.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Institute for Human Rights, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China. suzhaohuiszh@yeah.net.
² Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315100, China.
³ Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 739-8530, Japan.
⁴ Cardiff School of Technologies, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK.
⁵ Collaboration for the Advancement of Sustainable Medical Innovation, University College London, London, UK.
⁶ Department of Humanities, South East Technological University, Carlow, R93 V960, Ireland.
⁷ Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, 71000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
⁸ Rufaidah Nursing College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
⁹ Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, 315100, China.
¹⁰ National Women's History Museum, Alexandria, USA.
¹¹ UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, USA.
¹² Department of Criminology, University of South Florida St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, USA.
¹³ Department of Research and Development, Shanghai United Imaging Intelligence, Shanghai, China.
¹⁴ Antai College of Economics and Management, and School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
¹⁵ Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 280 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
¹⁶ School of Public Health, China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
¹⁷ Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China. ytxiang@um.edu.mo.
¹⁸ Fundação Dom Cabral - FDC, Av. Princesa Diana, 760 Alphaville, Lagoa dos Ingleses, Nova Lima, MG, 34018-006, Brazil. claudimar.veiga@gmail.com.

PMID: 36514147
PMCID: PMC9746565
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-022-02150-9

Abstract

Background: Pandemics, such as COVID-19, are dangerous and socially disruptive. Though no one is immune to COVID-19, older persons often bear the brunt of its consequences. This is particularly true for older women, as they often face more pronounced health challenges relative to other segments in society, including complex care needs, insufficient care provisions, mental illness, neglect, and increased domestic abuse. To further compound the situation, because protective measures like lockdowns can result in unintended consequences, many health services older women depend on can become disrupted or discontinued amid pandemics. While technology-based interventions have the potential to provide near-time, location-free, and virtually accessible care, there is a dearth of systematic insights into this mode of care in the literature. To bridge the research gaps, this investigation aims to examine the characteristics and effectiveness of technology-based interventions that could address health challenges older women face amid COVID-19.

Methods: A systematic review of randomized trials reporting on technology-based interventions for older women (≥65 years) during COVID-19 will be conducted. The databases of Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus will be searched. Retrieved citations will be screened independently by at least two reviewers against the eligibility criteria. Included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane ROB-2 tool. Data will be extracted independently by the reviewers. Where possible, meta-analyses will be performed on relevant study outcomes and analysed via odds ratios on the dichotomized outcomes. Where applicable, heterogeneity will be measured using the Cochrane Q test, and publication bias will be assessed via funnel plots and Egger's regression test.

Discussion: Technology has the potential to transform healthcare for the better. To help society better safeguard vulnerable populations' health and quality of life, this investigation sets out to gauge the state-of-the-art development of technology-based interventions tailored to the health challenges older women face amid COVID-19. In light of the growing prevalence of population ageing and the inevitability of infectious disease outbreaks, greater research efforts are needed to ensure the timely inception and effective implementation of technology-based health solutions for vulnerable populations like older women, amid public health crises like COVID-19 and beyond.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020194003.

Keywords: Ageing; COVID-19; Health disparities; Older people; Technology-based interventions; Women.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Main health challenges older women face amid COVID-19

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

1. The Economist . Tracking covid-19 excess deaths across countries. 2022.
1. World Health Organization . The true death toll of COVID-19: estimating global excess mortality. 2022.
1. Wang H, et al. Estimating excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic analysis of COVID-19-related mortality, 2020–21. Lancet. 2022;399(10334):1513–1536. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02796-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Su Z, et al. Public health crises and Ukrainian refugees. Brain Behav Immun. 2022;103:243–245. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.05.004. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Santomauro DF, et al. Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet. 2021;398(10312):1700–1712. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02143-7. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

Actions

MeSH terms

Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
Medical
- MedlinePlus Health Information

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

Technology-based interventions for health challenges older women face amid COVID-19: a systematic review protocol

Affiliations

Technology-based interventions for health challenges older women face amid COVID-19: a systematic review protocol

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical