Effect of digital messages from health professionals on COVID-19-related outcomes: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Keisuke Kuwahara; Masahiko Sakamoto; Ryohei Ishizuka; Mio Kato; Miki Akiyama; Hirono Ishikawa; Kosuke Kiyohara

doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2023.08.013

Effect of digital messages from health professionals on COVID-19-related outcomes: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

J Infect Public Health. 2023 Oct;16(10):1682-1689. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.08.013. Epub 2023 Aug 19.

Authors

Keisuke Kuwahara¹, Masahiko Sakamoto², Ryohei Ishizuka², Mio Kato³, Miki Akiyama⁴, Hirono Ishikawa², Kosuke Kiyohara⁵

Affiliations

¹ Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Health Data Science, Graduate School of Data Science, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Electronic address: kkuwahara@yokohama-cu.ac.jp.
² Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Office of Crisis Communication, Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, 5322, Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
⁵ Department of Food Science, Faculty of Home Economics, Otsuma Women's University, 12 Sanban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 37634322
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.08.013

Abstract

Effectiveness of health professionals' messages via digital tools on COVID-19-related outcomes remains unknown. In this systematic review, we examined this issue by searching randomized controlled trials in six databases until August, 2022 (PROSPERO, CRD 42022350788). Risk of bias was assessed using revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Primary outcomes were COVID-19 infections, preventive behaviors, and factors that support behavioral change. Seven trials with 16 reports (some reported two or more outcomes) were included. One trial showed that physician videos distributed by Facebook ads significantly reduced COVID-19 infections. Five of 6 reports showed that interventions can promote non-pharmaceutical preventive behaviors, vaccination, or information-seeking behaviors and half of the results were significant. Interventions improved the factors that support behavioral change. 14 reports had some concerns of bias risk and 2 had high risk of bias. Our findings suggest that digital messages by health professionals may help reduce COVID-19 infections through promoting behavioral change.

Keywords: COVID-19; Digital tools; Health professionals; Messaging; Randomized controlled trials.

Publication types

Systematic Review
Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / prevention & control
Databases, Factual
Health Personnel
Humans
Physicians*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic