Postgraduate education in healthy and active ageing: a systematic scoping review of learning needs, curricula and learning impact

Table 2. Search strings.

Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram.

Table 3. Study characteristics.

Figure 2. Topics and frequencies identified in learning needs assessment (number represents the number of papers); social aspects and related issues include isolation, intergenerational engagement, multicultural aspects of aging.

Figure 3. The topic focus of learning outcomes and objectives.

Figure 4. Overview of curriculum content topics.

Table 4. Summary of learning impact assessments.

Avers, D. (2014). Infusing an optimal aging paradigm into an entry-level geriatrics course. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 28(2), 22–34. doi:10.1097/00001416-201401000-00005

Englehardt, J., Hash, K. M., Mankowski, M., Harper-Dorton, K. V., & Pilarte, A. E. (2016). A gerontology practitioner continuing education certificate program: Lessons learned. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 36(4), 407–420. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2016.1197171

Sikora, S. (2006). The University of Arizona College of Medicine optimal aging program. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 27(2), 59–67. doi:https://doi.org/10.1300/J021v27n02_07

Lee, M. C. J., Chen, H. Y., Fang, Y. M., Wang, L. F., & Chen, C. Y. (2020). Learning performance of teaching practice of friendly senior care space design. International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design, 10(4), 32–44. doi:10.4018/IJOPCD.2020100103

Scott, I., McLachlan, F., & Brookfield, K. (2018). Inclusive design and pedagogy: An outline of three innovations. Built Environment, 44(1), 9–22. doi:https://doi.org/10.2148/benv.44.1.9

Zong, M. M., & Li, C. (2018). Well-Being design for an aging society. International Conference on Cross-Cultural Design, 10912. 10.1007/978-3-319-92252-2_37

Roberts, E., Bishop, A., Ruppert-Stroescu, M., Clare, G., Hermann, J., Singh, C., Slevitch, L. (2017). Active aging for L.I.F.E.: An intergenerational public health initiative addressing perceptions and behaviors around longevity, independence, fitness, and engagement. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 33(3), 211–222. doi:10.1097/TGR.0000000000000157

Clare, G., Roberts, E., Jayadas, A., & Hebert, P. (2019). Lessons learned from the active aging for L.I.F.E. intergenerational programming: College-age student and older adult 65+ focus group perspectives. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 17(2), 220–233. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/15350770.2018.1535350

van den Berg, A., Dewar, B., Smits, C., & Jukema, J. S. (2019). Experiences of older adults and undergraduate students in co-creating age-friendly services in an educational living lab. International Practice Development Journal, 9(2), 1–14. doi:10.19043/ipdj.92.002

Tullo, E., Greaves, L., & Wakeling, L. (2016). Involving older people in the design, development, and delivery of an innovative module on aging for undergraduate students. Educational Gerontology, 42(10), 698–705. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2016.1218705

Chrysikou, E., Rabnett, R., & Tziraki, C. (2016). Perspectives on the role and synergies of architecture and social and built environment in enabling active healthy aging. Journal of Aging Research, 2016, 1–7. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6189349

Farah, K. S., & Montepare, J. M. (2019). Communities by design: An age-friendly multidisciplinary course integrating the physical and social sciences. Journal of College Science Teaching, 48(3), 24–29. doi:10.2505/4%2FJCST19_048_03_24

Horowitz, B. P., Wong, S. D., & Dechello, K. (2010). Intergenerational service learning: To promote active aging, and occupational therapy gerontology practice. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 31(1), 75–91. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960903578345

Diwan, S., Perdue, M., Lee, S. E., & Grossman, B. R. (2016). Health promotion practice and interprofessional education in aging: Senior wellness fairs. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 37(2), 145–166. doi:10.1080/02701960.2015.1005290

Chiappini, P., & Miccoli, G. (2014). Innovation in learning practice: The edu.Care project. Journal of E-Learning and Knowledge Society, 10(3). doi:10.20368/1971-8829/924

Lynch, C., Stein, L. A., Grimshaw, S., Doyle, E., Camberg, L., & Ben-Ur, E. (2015). The impacts of service learning on students and community members: Lessons from design projects for older adults. Proceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE. Vol 2015-February. 10.1109/FIE.2014.7044320

Rubin, S. E., Gendron, T. L., Wren, C. A., Ogbonna, K. C., Gonzales, E. G., & Peron, E. P. (2015). Challenging gerontophobia and ageism through a collaborative intergenerational art program. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 13(3), 241–254. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/15350770.2015.1058213

Wu, W., & Kaushik, I. (2015). Design for aging with bim and game engine integration. ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings., 122. 10.18260/p.23799

Shneerson, C., Bartlett, D., Lord, J., & Gale, N. (2014). Supporting healthy ageing: Training multi-disciplinary healthcare students. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 6(1), 104–111. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2013.12.021

Oakes, C. E., & Sheehan, N. W. (2014). Students’ perceptions of a community-based service-learning project related to aging in place. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 35(3), 285–296. doi:10.1080/02701960.2014.907158

Hamerman, D., & Fried, L. P. (2013). Formulating a curriculum on aging and health for university undergraduates. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 56(2), 316–325. doi:https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2013.0021

Woo, J., Chau, P. H., & Mak, B. (2013). Health literacy regarding aging issues. In J. Woo (Ed.), Aging in Hong Kong (pp. 157–181). Springer US. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-8354-1_7

Oh, S. J., & Unnikrishnan, R. (2012). Infusing assistive technology in undergraduate engineering education. Proceedings of the 2nd Interdisciplinary Engineering Design Education Conference, IEDEC 2012. 10.1109/IEDEC.2012.6186921

Holt, E., & Kelting, S. (2012). Incorporating NAHB professional designations into a university residential construction management specialization. 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings, .25.761.1–25.761.10. 10.18260/1-2–21518

Beer, J. M., McBride, S. E., Adams, A. E., & Rogers, W. A. (2011). Applied experimental psychology: A capstone course for undergraduate psychology degree programs. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 535–539. 10.1177/1071181311551109

Immonen-Orpana, P., & Åhlberg, M. (2010). Collaborative learning by developing (LbD) using concept maps and vee diagrams. Handbook of Research on Collaborative Learning Using Concept Mapping, 215–237. doi:10.4018/978-1-59904-992-2.ch011

Ferrario, C. G., Freeman, F. J., Nellett, G., & Scheel, J. (2008). Changing nursing students’ attitudes about aging: An argument for the successful aging paradigm. Educational Gerontology, 34(1), 51–66. doi:10.1080/03601270701763969

Young, S., Bates, T., Wolff, M., & Maurana, C. A. (2002). Service-learning in healthy aging for medical students and family medicine residents. Education for Health: Change in Learning & Practice, 15(3), 353–361. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/1357628021000012796

The ACTing Project Consortium. (2014). Context analysis report. www.mondodigitale.org

Frank, J. C., Altpeter, M., Damron-Rodriguez, J., Driggers, J., Lachenmayr, S., Manning, C. … Robinson, P. (2014). Preparing the workforce for healthy aging programs: The skills for healthy aging resources and programs (SHARP) model. Health Education & Behavior, 41(1_suppl), 19S–26S. doi:10.1177/1090198114543007

Clark, P. G., Weeks, L. E., Den Bergh, G., & Doucet, S. (2017). Gerontology across the professions and the Atlantic: Development and evaluation of an interprofessional and international course on aging and health. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 38(2), 141–157. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2016.1144599

Davis, T. E. K., Singhal, V., & Gladson, B. (2022). Developing a master’s degree program in Gerontology. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 43(3), 383–396. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2020.1871338