Abstract
Aim
Ageing is an important global public health problem, while understanding and discussion of healthy ageing is diverse. The aim of this review is to analyze the concept, measurement, and determinants of healthy ageing from the perspective of functional ability based upon the World Health Organization framework for healthy ageing.
Methods
Eight databases, grey literature, and reference lists were searched from 2015 to 2022. Two reviewers independently screened and analyzed the available literature, and data from eligible studies were extracted. The concepts, determinants, and measurement indicators for healthy ageing were extracted from the included articles, and the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework was applied to identify the domain related to the functional ability of older adults.
Results
In conclusion, a total of 22 articles of literature were incorporated into this study. The concept of functional ability of older adults is varied, and the corresponding measurement indicators and measurement methods are also different. Multiple factors, including individual factors (demographic characteristics, intrinsic capacity, and health characteristics), social factors, and environmental factors, impact the functional ability of older adults.
Conclusion
Based on the available evidence, we identified three dimensions of the determinants of older adults' functional ability, including individual, social, and environmental factors, but the concept and measurement methods have not been standardized. In the future, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive evaluation system from the perspective of functional ability according to the conceptual framework of healthy ageing.
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Acknowledgments
I am indebted to Shu-fan Chen (School of Nursing, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China) and Huan Liu (The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China) for their helpful discussions of some issues in this paper. I should also like to acknowledge English language editing for this paper from Zibo Yimore Translation Co. Ltd.
Funding
This study was supported by the 'Young and middle-aged scientific research project' of Wannan Medical College (WKS2021F03).
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Wei Zhang performed the data collection, writing, and editing of the paper.
Ai-ping Wang performed thesis calibration and revision.
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Additional file 1.
The checklist of PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. (DOCX 65 kb)
Additional file 2.
The specific retrieval strategies of database. (DOC 36 kb)
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Zhang, W., Wang, Ap. Functional ability of older adults based on the World Health Organization framework of healthy ageing: a scoping review. J Public Health (Berl.) (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-02121-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-02121-x