The Use of Purposeful Physical Settings in Group-Based Psychosocial Interventions for Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Study Protocols

ObjectivesPurposeful design of physical settings, including sensorial elements, may enhance participant engagement in psychosocial interventions. Yet, consideration of these settings remains limited. This review mapped evidence on whether and how purposeful physical settings are reported in protocols for group-based psychosocial interventions for older adults.MethodsUsing Arksey and O'Malley's framework, we searched four databases for protocols of group-based psychosocial interventions for older adults involving in-person sessions.ResultsOf the seventy-five included protocols, only six (8%) explicitly reported physical settings. Author consultation identified an additional 16 protocols, totaling 22 (29%) considering settings such as layout, acoustics, lighting, and thermal comfort. Physical activity interventions in community settings with smaller groups were more likely to report these elements.DiscussionUnderreporting and limited detail on physical settings highlight room for improvement. Intentionally integrating and thoroughly reporting these settings could enhance intervention designs, potentially improving outcomes and replicability of psychosocial interventions for older adults.