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Systematic Reviews
Published in: Systematic Reviews 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Dementia | Protocol

Social connection measures for older adults living in long-term care homes: a systematic review protocol

Authors: Madalena P. Liougas, Andrew Sommerlad, Hannah M. O’Rourke, Katherine S. McGilton, Jennifer Bethell

Published in: Systematic Reviews | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Various measures have assessed social connection in long-term care (LTC) home residents. However, they use inconsistent terminology, conceptualizations, and operationalizations of social connection. In this systematic review protocol, we propose a study that will characterize measures that assess aspects of LTC home residents’ social connection using a unified conceptual model. The objectives are to (1) describe and analyze the measures and (2) evaluate their measurement properties.

Methods

A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE ALL (Ovid), Embase Classic and Embase (Ovid), Emcare Nursing (Ovid), APA PsycInfo (Ovid), Scopus, CINAHL Complete (EBSCOhost), AgeLine (EBSCOhost), and Sociological Abstracts (ProQuest). We will include primary research papers with no language limit, published from database inception. We will include studies of a measure of any aspect of social connection in LTC home residents that report at least one measurement property. Independently, two reviewers will screen titles and abstracts, review full-text articles against eligibility criteria, and extract data from included studies. In objective 1, we will analyze identified tools using an adapted framework method. In objective 2, we will evaluate each measure’s measurement properties using COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology. We will engage experts and stakeholders to assist with interpreting results and translating knowledge.

Discussion

Our findings will inform the social connection in long-term care home residents (SONNET) study’s development of a novel, person-centered measure for social connection in LTC home settings. We will present our findings in academic and non-academic forums, including conferences, peer-reviewed journals, and other publications.

Systemic review registration

Prospero—“Systematic review of measures of social connection used in long-term care home research.” CRD42022303526.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Social connection measures for older adults living in long-term care homes: a systematic review protocol
Authors
Madalena P. Liougas
Andrew Sommerlad
Hannah M. O’Rourke
Katherine S. McGilton
Jennifer Bethell
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keywords
Dementia
Dementia
Published in
Systematic Reviews / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 2046-4053
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02468-6

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