Characteristics and functionalities of digital tools supporting motivation and adherence to physical activity in older adults with health conditions: a protocol for a scoping review

INTRODUCTION: Regular physical activity declines with age, particularly among older adults with health conditions. Digital tools, including wearable devices, mobile applications, virtual reality systems and tele-exercise platforms, offer promising ways to promote physical activity. However, the technological components of these tools and their reported associations with motivation, adherence and physical activity levels remain underexplored. This scoping review aims to map the characteristics and functionalities of digital tools used to promote physical activity among older adults with health conditions and to examine how these components are described in relation to psychobehavioural outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidance. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo and SportDiscus. The reference lists of included studies will also be screened to identify additional relevant articles. Eligible studies will include adults aged 60 years or older with health conditions using digital tools for physical activity. Two reviewers will independently select studies and extract data on the components of digital tools. A descriptive synthesis will summarise the key technological characteristics, and a content analysis will identify and categorise tool components, describing how they are reported in relation to psychobehavioural outcomes and theoretical constructs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This review does not involve human participants, so ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and stakeholder summaries.