Characteristics of included reviews (n=15)
| Review (year) | Aim | Review design (design of included studies) | Number of primary studies included | Time frame of primary studies | Countries where primary studies were undertaken (n*) | Regions where primary studies were undertaken (n*) | Total number of participants in primary studies | Number of databases searched | Search terms provided | Language restrictions | Quality or bias assessment | Evidence synthesis |
| Alldred et al 33 (2016) | To assess the effect of interventions to optimise medicines prescribing for older people living in care homes | Systematic review (RCTs) | 12 | 1994–2015 | Australia (1); Canada (4); Germany (1); Norway (1); Sweden (1); and USA (13) | Europe (3); North America (17); Oceania (1) | 10 953 | 6 | Yes | No | Cochrane collaboration’s risk of bias tool; GRADE | Narrative and tabular |
| Berthelsen and Kristensson34 (2015) | To describe the content and effects of case management interventions for informal caregivers of older adults | Systematic review (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 7 | 1997–2011 | Finland (2); The Netherlands (1); and USA (4) | Europe (3); North America (4) | 6956 | 3 | Yes | NS | GRADE | Narrative and tabular |
| Brown et al 35 (2015) | To assess the effectiveness of day hospitals for older people in preventing death, disability, institutionalisation and improving subjective health status | Systematic review and meta-analysis (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 16 | 1962–2008 | Australia (1); Canada (1); Finland (1); Hong Kong (1); New Zealand (1); UK (8) and USA (3) | Asia (1); Europe (9); North America (4); Oceania (2) | 3689 | 23 | Yes | No | Cochrane collaboration’s risk of bias tool; GRADE | Narrative and tabular |
| Cochrane et al 36 (2016) | To assess the effects of home care rehabilitation services for maintaining and improving the functional independence of older adults | Systematic review and meta-analysis (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 2 | 2013–2015 | Australia (1); Norway (1) | Europe (1); Oceania (1) | 811 | 9 | Yes | No | Cochrane collaboration’s risk of bias tool; GRADE | Narrative and tabular |
| Costa-de Lima et al 44 (2015) | To search the literature for multiprofessional, cost-effective intervention programmes for elderly people in primary care settings | Literature review (NS) | 32 | 1993–2012 | NS | NS | NS | 10 | Yes | Yes | None | Narrative and tabular |
| Deschodt et al 45 (2016) | To explore the structure and processes of interdisciplinary geriatric consultation teams | Scoping review (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 25 | 1983–2013 | Belgium (1); Canada (2); France (3); Germany (1); The Netherlands (1); Taiwan (1); UK (2); and USA (14) | Asia (1); Europe (8); North America (16) | NS | 3 | Yes | Yes | None | Narrative and tabular |
| Ellis et al 37 (2011) | To assess the effectiveness of comprehensive geriatric assessment in hospital for older adults admitted as an emergency | Systematic review and meta-analysis (RCTs) | 22 | 1984–2007 | Australia (1); Canada (4); Germany (1); Norway (1); Sweden (1); and USA (13) | Europe (3); North America (17); Oceania (1) | 10 315 | 6 | Yes | NS | Cochrane collaboration’s risk of bias tool | Narrative and tabular |
| Fan et al 46 (2015) | To review the effectiveness of interventions targeting the elderly population in reducing emergency department utilisation | Literature review (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 36 | 1993–2013 | Australia (9): Canada (8); France (1); Italy (1); Singapore (1); UK (1); USA (15) | Asia (1); Europe (3); North America (23); Oceania (9) | NS | 5 | Yes | Yes | Assessment tool developed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project | Narrative and tabular |
| Frank and Wilson47 (2015) | To review Canadian models of care for frail seniors provided in primary care settings | Overview (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 6 | 2006–2015 | Canada (6) | North America (6) | NS | 2 | No | NS | None | Narrative |
| Handoll et al 38 (2009) | To assess the effects of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for older patients with proximal fracture that has been surgically repaired | Systematic review and meta-analysis (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 13 | 1986–2008 | Australia (3); Canada (1); Spain (1); Sweden (2); Taiwan (1); UK (4) | Asia (1); Europe (7); North America (1); Oceania (3) | 2498 | 6 | Yes | No | Cochrane collaboration’s risk of bias tool | Narrative and tabular |
| Hickman et al 39 (2015) | To identify multidisciplinary team interventions to optimise health outcomes for older people in acute care settings | Systematic review (RCTs) | 6 | 2005–2014 | Australia (1); Belgium (1); France (1); Finland (1); Spain (1); Taiwan (1) | Asia (1); Europe (4); Oceania (1) | 1558 | 3 | Yes | Yes | None | Narrative and tabular |
| Ke et al 40 (2015) | To explore nurses’ views regarding implementing advance care planning for older people | Systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative evidence | 18 | 1993–2013 | Australia (2); Canada (2); New Zealand (1); South Africa (1); Switzerland (1); UK (7); USA (4) | Africa (1); Europe (8); North America (6); Oceania (3) | NS | 4 | Yes | Yes | None | Narrative and tabular |
| Lowthian et al 41 (2015) | To examine the effectiveness of emergency department community transition strategies | Systematic review and meta-analysis (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 11 papers concerning 9 studies | 1996–2013 | Australia (6); Canada (4); Hong Kong (1); Scotland (1); Singapore (1) | Asia (2); Europe (1); North America (4); Oceania (6) | 22 502 | 3 | Yes | No | Cochrane collaboration’s risk of bias tool | Narrative and tabular |
| McClure et al 42 (2005) | To assess the effectiveness of population-based interventions for reducing fall-related injuries among older people | Systematic review (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 6 | 1996–2006 | Australia (1); Denmark (1); Norway (1); Sweden (2); Taiwan (1) | Asia (1): Europe (4); Oceania (1) | NS | 9 | Yes | No | Checklist of the Cochrane EPOC review group | Narrative and tabular |
| Phelan et al 43 (2015) | To search for intervention strategies that have any measurable effect on acute care hospitalisations among community-dwelling adults with dementia | Systematic review (RCTs and non-RCTs) | 10 papers concerning 9 studies | 2002–2010 | Finland (1); The Netherlands (1); UK (1); USA (6) | Europe (3); North America (6) | 1332 | 9 | Yes | Yes | None | Narrative and tabular |
*n, number of studies may not sum to the number of primary studies included, as primary studies may have been undertaken in more than one country.
EPOC, Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Review Group; GRADE, Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation; NS, not stated; RCT, randomised controlled trial.