Short answer

When designing interventions or products for older adults, actively involve them in the design process, as this can lead to improvements in specific functional aspects even if overall engagement metrics aren't immediately met.

Field
User-Centred Design
Source
PLoS ONE (2024)
Method
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Sample
N = 16,733 (across 8 included studies)
Evidence
Mixed findings

While co-designed physical activity interventions did not definitively prove superior to standard care for increasing overall physical activity in older adults, there is evidence suggesting a positive impact on physical function. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2024 study published in PLoS ONE. Using Systematic review and meta-analysis with N = 16,733 (across 8 included studies), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing interventions or products for older adults, actively involve them in the design process, as this can lead to improvements in specific functional aspects even if overall engagement metrics aren't immediately met.

Study
User-Centred DesignRecentMixed findings

Co-designing physical activity interventions for older adults shows moderate potential for improving physical function.

While co-designed physical activity interventions did not definitively prove superior to standard care for increasing overall physical activity in older adults, there is evidence suggesting a positive impact on physical function.

PLoS ONE · 2024

01

Key Findings

  • 01Co-designed physical activity interventions did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in overall physical activity compared to standard care.
  • 02Quantitative analysis of three studies indicated improved physical function in participants receiving co-designed interventions.
02

Application

Design takeaway

When designing interventions or products for older adults, actively involve them in the design process, as this can lead to improvements in specific functional aspects even if overall engagement metrics aren't immediately met.

How to apply

When developing health or wellness programs for specific age groups, integrate co-design workshops and feedback sessions to refine the intervention based on user needs and preferences, paying attention to functional improvements.

Project actions

  • 01When designing a product or service, consider how to involve the target users directly in the creation process.
  • 02Think about measuring a range of outcomes, not just the most obvious one, to capture the full impact of your design.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo determine if co-designed physical activity interventions are more effective than standard care in increasing physical activity and improving other health outcomes in older adults.
MethodSystematic Review and Meta-Analysis
ProcedureResearchers systematically searched multiple databases for primary research studies comparing co-designed physical activity interventions with standard care for community-dwelling older adults. They then conducted a meta-analysis on the pooled data and assessed the quality of evidence.
SampleN = 16,733 (across 8 included studies)
ContextHealth and wellness interventions for older adults.

Variables

IVType of physical activity intervention (co-designed vs. standard care)
DVPhysical activity levels, physical function, quality of life, mental health, functional independence, attendance, attrition rates.
CVAge of participants (60+), community-dwelling status, comparison to standard care.
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Systematic review methodology ensures a comprehensive search and rigorous selection of studies.
  • +Meta-analysis provides a quantitative summary of findings across multiple studies.

Limitations

The small number of studies and low quality of evidence mean these findings should be interpreted with caution. More research is needed.

Reliability & validity

The systematic review process aims to enhance reliability through standardized screening and data extraction. However, the validity of the meta-analysis is limited by the heterogeneity and low quality of the included studies.

Think critically

Given the very low quality of evidence, what are the most significant risks of implementing co-designed interventions based on this review, and what steps could be taken to mitigate them?

05

Design Principles

"User participation in the design process can yield nuanced benefits beyond the primary intended outcomes."

This research highlights the importance of involving users in the design process, particularly for interventions targeting specific demographics like older adults. Even if the primary outcome isn't met, secondary benefits like improved physical function can still offer significant value.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Designing health programs with older adults themselves (co-design) didn't strongly prove they'd do more exercise, but it did seem to help them with their physical abilities.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the benefits of user involvement in design, particularly for interventions aimed at specific demographics, and acknowledge the importance of considering multiple outcome measures.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research into co-designed physical activity interventions for older adults suggests that while direct increases in overall activity levels may not be consistently demonstrated compared to standard care, there is evidence of positive impacts on physical function. This underscores the value of user-centred design methodologies, even when primary objectives are not fully met, by revealing secondary benefits that enhance user well-being.

09

Source

PLoS ONE

The effects of co-designed physical activity interventions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

journal · 2024

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about co-designing physical activity interventions for older adults shows moderate potential for improving physical function?
When designing interventions or products for older adults, actively involve them in the design process, as this can lead to improvements in specific functional aspects even if overall engagement metrics aren't immediately met. Evidence: PLoS ONE (2024).
Why does "Co-designing physical activity interventions for older adults shows moderate potential for improving physical function." matter for design?
This research highlights the importance of involving users in the design process, particularly for interventions targeting specific demographics like older adults. Even if the primary outcome isn't met, secondary benefits like improved physical function can still offer significant value.
How can designers apply this research?
When designing interventions or products for older adults, actively involve them in the design process, as this can lead to improvements in specific functional aspects even if overall engagement metrics aren't immediately met.
What were the main findings?
Co-designed physical activity interventions did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in overall physical activity compared to standard care.. Quantitative analysis of three studies indicated improved physical function in participants receiving co-designed interventions.
What research method was used?
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with N = 16,733 (across 8 included studies).
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Mixed findings, based on a 2024 journal from PLoS ONE.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When developing health or wellness programs for specific age groups, integrate co-design workshops and feedback sessions to refine the intervention based on user needs and preferences, paying attention to functional improvements.
What are the limitations?
The evidence base was limited, with only a small number of studies suitable for meta-analysis, and the overall quality of evidence was rated as very low.