Effectiveness of digital technology interventions to reduce loneliness in adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032455

. 2019 Sep 27;9(9):e032455.

doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032455.

Effectiveness of digital technology interventions to reduce loneliness in adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Syed Ghulam Sarwar Shah^{1

2}, David Nogueras³, Hugo van Woerden^{4

5}, Vasiliki Kiparoglou^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK Sarwar.Shah@ouh.nhs.uk.
² Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
³ DNM Consulting, London, UK.
⁴ NHS Highland, Assynt House, Inverness, UK.
⁵ Centre for Health and Science, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, UK.
⁶ NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
⁷ Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

PMID: 31562164
PMCID: PMC6773278
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032455

Effectiveness of digital technology interventions to reduce loneliness in adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Syed Ghulam Sarwar Shah et al. BMJ Open. 2019.

. 2019 Sep 27;9(9):e032455.

doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032455.

Authors

Syed Ghulam Sarwar Shah^{1

2}, David Nogueras³, Hugo van Woerden^{4

5}, Vasiliki Kiparoglou^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK Sarwar.Shah@ouh.nhs.uk.
² Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
³ DNM Consulting, London, UK.
⁴ NHS Highland, Assynt House, Inverness, UK.
⁵ Centre for Health and Science, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, UK.
⁶ NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
⁷ Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

PMID: 31562164
PMCID: PMC6773278
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032455

Abstract

Introduction: Loneliness is an emerging public health problem that is associated with social, emotional, mental and physical health issues. The application of digital technology (DT) interventions to reduce loneliness has significantly increased in the recent years. The effectiveness of DT interventions needs to be assessed systematically.

Methods and analysis: Aim: To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of DT interventions to reduce loneliness among adults.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources: PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and Web of Science.Publication period: 1 January 2010 to 31 July 2019.

Inclusion criteria: Primary studies involving the application of DT interventions to reduce loneliness, involving adult participants (aged ≥18 years), follow-up period ≥3 months and published in the English language.Synthesis and meta-analysis: A narrative summary of the characteristics of included studies, findings by the type of DT intervention, and the age, gender and ethnicity of participants. A meta-analysis by the study design and duration of follow-up and determination of random effects size using the RevMan V.5 software.Quality of evidence and bias: Quality of evidence assessed the RoB V.2.0 (revised tool for Risk of Bias in randomized trials) and ROBINS-I (Risk Of Bias in Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions) tools for randomised control trials and non-randomised studies, respectively. Heterogeneity between studies will be determined by the I² and Cochran's Q statistics and publication bias checked with funnel plots and the Egger's test.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval was not required for this protocol. The findings will be disseminated through journal articles and conference presentations.

Prospero registration number: CRD42019131524.

Keywords: Adults; Digital technology; Effectiveness; Loneliness; Meta-analysis; Systematic review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

**Figure 1**
PRISMA flow diagram. PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

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References

1. Schrempft S, Jackowska M, Hamer M, et al. . Associations between social isolation, loneliness, and objective physical activity in older men and women. BMC Public Health 2019;19:74 10.1186/s12889-019-6424-y - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Okwaraji FE, Obiechina KI, Onyebueke GC, et al. . Loneliness, life satisfaction and psychological distress among out-of-school adolescents in a Nigerian urban City. Psychol Health Med 2018;23:1106–12. 10.1080/13548506.2018.1476726 - DOI - PubMed
1. The Scottish Government A connected Scotland: our strategy for tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections, 2018. Available: https://www.gov.scot/publications/connected-scotland-strategy-tackling-s... [Accessed 3 May 2019].
1. Malcolm M, Frost H, Cowie J. Loneliness and social isolation causal association with health-related lifestyle risk in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Syst Rev 2019;8:48 10.1186/s13643-019-0968-x - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, et al. . Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspect Psychol Sci 2015;10:227–37. - PubMed

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[1] Schrempft S, Jackowska M, Hamer M, et al. . Associations between social isolation, loneliness, and objective physical activity in older men and women. BMC Public Health 2019;19:74 10.1186/s12889-019-6424-y - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Schrempft S, Jackowska M, Hamer M, et al. . Associations between social isolation, loneliness, and objective physical activity in older men and women. BMC Public Health 2019;19:74 10.1186/s12889-019-6424-y - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Okwaraji FE, Obiechina KI, Onyebueke GC, et al. . Loneliness, life satisfaction and psychological distress among out-of-school adolescents in a Nigerian urban City. Psychol Health Med 2018;23:1106–12. 10.1080/13548506.2018.1476726 - DOI - PubMed

[4] Okwaraji FE, Obiechina KI, Onyebueke GC, et al. . Loneliness, life satisfaction and psychological distress among out-of-school adolescents in a Nigerian urban City. Psychol Health Med 2018;23:1106–12. 10.1080/13548506.2018.1476726 - DOI - PubMed

[5] The Scottish Government A connected Scotland: our strategy for tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections, 2018. Available: https://www.gov.scot/publications/connected-scotland-strategy-tackling-s... [Accessed 3 May 2019].

[6] The Scottish Government A connected Scotland: our strategy for tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections, 2018. Available: https://www.gov.scot/publications/connected-scotland-strategy-tackling-s... [Accessed 3 May 2019].

[7] Malcolm M, Frost H, Cowie J. Loneliness and social isolation causal association with health-related lifestyle risk in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Syst Rev 2019;8:48 10.1186/s13643-019-0968-x - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Malcolm M, Frost H, Cowie J. Loneliness and social isolation causal association with health-related lifestyle risk in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Syst Rev 2019;8:48 10.1186/s13643-019-0968-x - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, et al. . Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspect Psychol Sci 2015;10:227–37. - PubMed

[10] Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, et al. . Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspect Psychol Sci 2015;10:227–37. - PubMed

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Effectiveness of digital technology interventions to reduce loneliness in adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Effectiveness of digital technology interventions to reduce loneliness in adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

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