The views and experiences of older adults regarding digital mental health interventions: a systematic review of qualitative studies

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence on the views and experiences of older adults in using digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) for the prevention or self-management of mental disorders. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and the first 100 results of Google Scholar for eligible studies and we included 37 papers reporting 35 studies in this Review. Most DMHIs were delivered using mobile apps (n=11), websites (n=6), and video-conferencing tools (n=6). The use of DMHIs in older adults was affected by negative perceptions about ageing and mental health, the digital divide (eg, insufficient digital literacy), personal factors (eg, motivation) and health status, interpersonal influences (eg, guidance and encouragement), intervention features (eg, pace and content), technology-related factors (eg, accessibility), and the perceived benefits and risks of using DMHIs. Future DMHIs for older adults should involve other stakeholders such as health-care professionals, provide content relevant to the needs of older people, be more accessible, and address concerns about privacy and confidentiality.