---
title: "Goal-setting approaches to improve social connection in older adults: implementation components fr"
id: "bmj-open-12-supporting-goal-setting-to-promote-social-connection-in-older-adults-a-rapid"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/bmj-open-12-supporting-goal-setting-to-promote-social-connection-in-older-adults-a-rapid"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "General"
source_name: "BMJ Open"
source_url: "http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/16/9/e120085?rss=1"
published_at: "2026-09-22T17:11:09.000Z"
evidence_level: "Journal Feed"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Goal-setting approaches to improve social connection in older adults: implementation components fr
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/bmj-open-12-supporting-goal-setting-to-promote-social-connection-in-older-adults-a-rapid
- **Specialty:** [General](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/general.md)
- **Primary Source:** BMJ Open
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/16/9/e120085?rss=1)
- **Published At:** 2026-09-22T17:11:09.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Journal Feed
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- This rapid review synthesized how **goal-setting** and goal attainment have been operationalised in interventions aiming to increase **social connection**, social participation, and reduce loneliness or social isolation among older adults. - Searches were conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed) and CINAHL (via EBSCOhost), and reference lists of included studies were screened. Eligible studies included interventions with goal-setting or goal-attainment support for adults aged 60+ or populations defined as older adults by study authors. - Both quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods intervention studies were eligible; observational studies without interventions, protocols without outcomes, conference abstracts and non-English reports were excluded. - Data extraction used a structured framework covering study characteristics, intervention context, goal-setting and goal-attainment support, delivery characteristics and outcomes. Synthesis was thematic using an inductive-deductive approach. - Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria and were analysed for recurring implementation features of goal-setting support. - Seven recurring implementation components were identified: (1) structured and theory-informed approaches; (2) relational facilitation and supportive accountability; (3) ongoing monitoring, feedback and goal review; (4) social accountability and group-based support; (5) flexible delivery models and accessibility; (6) meaningful, person-centred goals; and (7) tailored support for individuals with complex needs. - These components appeared across diverse settings, populations and delivery models rather than a single optimal goal-setting technique. - The authors applied the **RE-AIM** framework to interpret practical implementation considerations related to reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of interventions using goal-setting support. - The review’s findings aim to inform the design, adaptation, implementation and evaluation of community-based and social prescribing interventions targeting social connection among older adults.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
Objectives To synthesise how goal setting and goal attainment have been operationalised within interventions aiming to promote social connection and reduce loneliness or social isolation among older adults and to identify recurrent components of these approaches that may inform intervention design. Design Rapid review. Data sources MEDLINE (via PubMed) and CINAHL (via EBSCOhost) were searched. Reference lists of included studies were also screened for additional relevant studies. Eligibility criteria Studies involving adults aged 60 years or above, or populations defined as older adults by the study author, were eligible if they evaluated interventions that incorporated goal-setting or goal-attainment support to promote social connection or social participation or reduced loneliness or social isolation. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies were eligible. Studies were excluded if they were observational without an intervention component, protocols without outcome data, conference abstracts or not published in English. Data extraction and synthesis Data were extracted using a structured framework covering study characteristics, intervention context, goal-setting and goal-attainment support, delivery characteristics and relevant outcomes. Findings were synthesised thematically using an inductive-deductive approach. The resulting recurring implementation components were subsequently interpreted using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework as an implementation-oriented lens. Results 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis identified seven recurring implementation components of goal-setting support: (1) structured and theory-informed approaches; (2) relational facilitation and supportive accountability; (3) ongoing monitoring, feedback and goal review; (4) social accountability and group-based support; (5) flexible delivery models and accessibility; (6) meaningful, person-centred goals and (7) tailored support for individuals with complex needs. These components were observed across diverse intervention settings, populations and delivery models. Interpretation using the RE-AIM framework highlighted practical implementation considerations relating to intervention reach, adoption, implementation, effectiveness and maintenance. Conclusions This rapid review synthesised how goal-setting support has been operationalised within interventions promoting social connection among older adults. Rather than identifying a single optimal approach to goal setting, the review identified seven recurring implementation components that describe how goal-setting support has been delivered across diverse intervention contexts. These findings provide practical implementation considerations to inform the design, adaptation, implementation and evaluation of future community-based and social prescribing interventions.
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