Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Studies using a sample of older adults/patients (defined as 65 years and above) under the care of healthcare professionals

Studies using a sample of older adults with communication impairment (e.g., aphasia)

The rapid review focused on the quality of communication in older adults without hearing or speaking impairment.

Studies focusing on effective communication interventions, both verbal and non-verbal

Studies focusing on communicative interventions for patients with communication impairment

This rapid review focused on older patients without any hearing or speaking impairment.

Studies focusing on patient-centred outcomes (variables promoting or indicating the patient recovery journey, or implying the patient’s subjective experiences of the care process), such as psychological well-being, quality of health care, emotional well-being, cognitive well-being, individualised care, health status, patient satisfaction, and quality of life.

No outcome reported

Focusing on a particular outcome like patient well-being would not have yielded any studies enough for review to address the review objectives due to the scarcity of research on this subject matter

Studies published between 2000 and 2023

Older studies

This review aimed to capture latest developments, advancements, and findings in the field. As a result, studies published within the past ten years were preferred. However, only a few articles were published within that timeframe, requiring the need for adjusting the timeframe to 2000–2023 to identify sufficient studies for review.

Studies published in the English language

N/A

The researcher is an English speaker, which means studies published in non-English languages could have resulted in translational errors and costs undermining the study’s credibility.

Primary studies using either qualitative designs, quantitative designs, or both

Secondary studies, like other literature reviews. Also, studies not reporting their methodologies at all.

The inclusion of secondary studies would have introduced bias into this rapid review.

Studies conducted in any country in the world

Studies conducted in sanctioned countries for violating international law norms and traditions, such as human rights violations

Considering the lack of research on this subject, focusing on a single country would not have yielded studies for review.