Usability of Videoconferencing Technology to Deliver Physical Activity Interventions to Older People Living in the Community: A Systematic Review - Abstract
Abstract Background: Videoconference combines the convenience of home exercise with the group interaction and supervision of exercise in the community, and appears useful for increasing physical activity (PA) level of older people. Objective: To assess evidence on the usability of videoconferencing technologies as a medium for a PA intervention delivered synchronously to healthy older adults. Methods: Four databases (Pubmed/Ovid Medline, Embase, Scopus, and CINHAL) were searched until November 2022 for articles on measures of usability, effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction of technology, used to deliver the PA program in older adults. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for quality assessment. Results: A total of 8 studies was included. Our results showed that videoconferencing intervention strategies can be used to deliver a PA intervention, but
that their effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction are variable depending on the technological medium used. Despite the significant use of videoconferencing with the elderly, we identified a small number of studies that evaluate usability. We found a lack of usability testing methods to evaluate technologies used to conduct remote PA interventions. Conclusion: Measuring the usability of technologies used to deliver PA programs can help develop and evolve them to meet the needs and characteristics of older adults. This review has shown that measuring usability supports the conclusion that older adults can use a technology support to monitor an intervention. Further research, using standardized tools, is needed to help older adults engage in physical activity.