Empirical evidence regarding financial capability interventions used with diagnostic populations is increasing: A scoping review.

Objective(s): To explore literature concerning interventions aimed at improving financial capability (FC) in diagnostic populations that have documented challenges with FC including individuals living with brain injury, mental health conditions, mild cognitive impairment/dementia, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and multiple sclerosis.

Data Sources: With librarian consultation, researchers searched five databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, EconLit, EMBASE), completed backward and forward citation searching, and contacted expert authors.

Study Selection: Two independent reviewers completed title/abstract screening and full article selection using online review software. A priori inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed, written in English, involved adults with aforementioned diagnoses, and described any intervention regarding FC.

Data Extraction: Two independent reviewers extracted data using a piloted extraction form. Reviewers created an inclusive model to categorize intervention components across selected articles.

Data Synthesis: Database searching identified 7063 titles, and reviewers included 24 articles published between 1981-2018. Most articles were aimed at individuals with substance use and/or mental health conditions (n=20); less in other diagnoses (brain injury (n=2), multiple sclerosis (n=1) and mixed diagnoses (n=1). Articles included only four randomized control trials (RCTs); with more case series/cohort design studies (n=6), or opinion/editorial articles (n=4). Others were intervention frameworks, case studies or qualitative (n=10). Interventions discussed were heterogenous and complex, including components of education (n=10), skills training (n=21), individualized budgeting (n=18), metacognitive strategies (n=2), structured goal setting (n=7), savings building (n=5), representative payeeship (n=11), and assistive technology (n=1).

Conclusions: Despite FC being a common goal in rehabilitation, there is insufficient literature to review and appraise FC intervention efficacy in these select populations. There is limited literature overall, with very few RCTs and many populations having zero to two articles. The interventions described have varied components that limits inter-article comparison. The literature provides possible intervention options, but further research is imperative to guide evidence-based rehabilitation practice.

Author(s) Disclosures: Authors do not have any conflicts to disclose.