Effectiveness of behavioural interventions to influence COVID-19 outcomes: A scoping review

Takana M Silubonde-Moyana; Catherine E Draper; Shane A Norris

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107499

Effectiveness of behavioural interventions to influence COVID-19 outcomes: A scoping review

Prev Med. 2023 Jul:172:107499. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107499. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Authors

Takana M Silubonde-Moyana¹, Catherine E Draper², Shane A Norris³

Affiliations

¹ SAMRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa. Electronic address: takanamoyana@gmail.com.
² SAMRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa. Electronic address: Catherine.Draper@wits.ac.za.
³ SAMRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Global Health Research Institute, School of Human Development and Health, University of Southampton, Southampton S016 6YD, UK. Electronic address: Shane.Norris@wits.ac.za.

Abstract

Behavioural non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) (e.g., mask wearing, quarantine, restriction on gatherings, physical distancing) have been used to interrupt transmission of COVID-19 and to reduce the impacts of the pandemic. The aim of this scoping review was to document the efficacy of behavioural NPIs to positively influence COVID-19 outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Psych INFO, Medline, CINAHL and Scopus for studies published between January 2020 and February 2023. Seventy -seven studies were eligible to be included in the review. Majority of the studies were conducted in high-income countries, with fewer studies in low- or middle-income countries. School closure, mask wearing, and non-essential business closure and shelter-in-place orders were the most prevalent NPIs investigated. School closure and mask wearing reported high effectiveness while shelter-in-place orders reported less effectiveness. Shelter-in-place orders when used in conjunction with other measures, did not enhance effectiveness. Public event bans, physical distancing, handwashing, and travel restrictions were largely effective, while the effectiveness of gathering restrictions depended on the limitation on numbers. Early implementation was associated with a higher effectiveness in reducing COVID-19 cases and deaths, the use of behavioural NPIs in combinations was reported to yield more effective results. Moreover, behavioural NPIs were reported to be dependent on their consistent use and were difficult behaviours to maintain, highlighting the need for behavioural change. This review highlighted the effectiveness of behavioural NPIs to positively influence COVID-19 reduction outcomes. Further research to promote country- and context-specific documents that will enhance the effectiveness of behavioural NPIs.

Keywords: Behavioural change; COVID-19; Effectiveness; Non-pharmaceutical interventions; Policy documents.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Humans
Pandemics / prevention & control
Physical Distancing
Quarantine
SARS-CoV-2