A Checklist to Assess Technologies for the Diagnosis and Rehabilitation of Geriatric Syndromes: A Delphi Study

Technologies for frail elderly individuals facilitate the integration of care services, support the post-discharge period, and enhance independence and quality of life while reducing isolation. However, the lack of methodological rigor in studies on technologies for diagnosing and treating geriatric syndromes limits applied research. This study aimed to develop and validate a checklist considering technical readiness, clinical needs, and context to support the use of technologies primary in clinical practice and also in research settings. To this aim, a Delphi procedure was conducted in four rounds, followed by a pilot test assessing the checklist’s practical effectiveness. Twenty-nine items were defined and discussed. Among them, no item was deleted, while a total of eight items were reformulated. At the end of the assessment steps, 73% of items showed a high median relevance rating. The pilot test showed the difficulty in finding relevant information to complete the checklist as the only critical issue. This tool represents the first validated checklist in the field of technology-based healthcare for elderly individuals and supports the application of technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of geriatric syndromes by clinicians and researchers.