Systematic Review on the Social Participation Assessment Tool for Older Adults

This systematic review analyzed the literature using social participation assessment tools for older adults and presented the frequency of use, assessment items, and methods of each assessment. Using databases from Pubmed, CINAHL, and Web of Science, a total of 1,386 studies were collected. 18 studies were selected according to the selection and exclusion criteria. 9 studies (50%) were published in the last five years. In the case of research design, 12 studies (66.6%) were designed as cross-sectional survey studies, which were found to be the most common. There were a total of 11 assessment tools for older adults’ social participation among 18 studies. The most widely used assessment tool was Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H), which was used in a total of 7 studies (38.9%). It was found that the components were different for each tool. Most of the assessment tools were in the form of self-reporting questionnaires. Frequency of the participation was the most c ommon method. Others asked the degree of diffic ulty and a number or status of partic ipating ac tivities. This study can help clinicians or researchers select social participation assessment tools, and it is expected that appropriate tool selection can lead to better understanding older adults’ social participation.