Health gains from rehabilitation programs implemented by nurses among older people with impaired mobility and self-care deficit: A scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: Ageing is a multifactorial and progressive process that leads to a gradual decline in mental and physical function, directly impacting the ability to perform daily living activities and health-related quality of life. Thus, it is essential to develop strategies that prioritize the maintenance of the functional capacity and the enhancement of the quality of life and well-being of older adults. Objective: This scoping review intends to map the rehabilitation programs, used by rehabilitation nurses, for promoting mobility and self-care, among older adults, to identify the main health gains resulting from the rehabilitation programs implemented. Methods: This scoping review follows the JBI methodology and the results obtained are described according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, and was registered in the OSF (osf.io/zqkp3/). The electronic databases CINAHL Complete; Complete MEDLINE; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, were searched in March 2025, for papers published in the last 10 years. Two researchers independently analyzed the papers for eligibility and extracted the data. Data on health gains whose association with the intervention was described were collected and synthetized, through narrative synthesis. Results: The initial search yielded a total of 15,347 records, and after screening, 12 papers were included. The evaluation of the methodological quality and levels of evidence of the studies, according to the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool, concluded that the average quality score of the studies ranged from 67% to 100%. The results revealed a variety of interventions implemented, targeting different aspects of rehabilitation, with a wide range in the duration (15 to 60 min) and frequency of sessions (three to 56), as well as the use of diverse instruments to assess the effectiveness of the interventions. The health gains associated with the musculoskeletal system were reported most frequently, followed by those related to neurocognitive enhancements. Respiratory and renal gains were only reported by one study each. Conclusions: This scoping review reinforces the evolving vision of nursing rehabilitation as a cornerstone of comprehensive healthcare, demonstrating its significant impact on enhancing health gains at several physiologic systems among older adults. Adopting a multiple physiological system-based framework for the analysis and implementation of these interventions may enhance the precision, accountability, and efficacy of care. Such poses nursing rehabilitation as an essential strategy in the continuum of care, advocating for its integration into healthcare systems and policies to support the health and sustainable recovery of the older population.