Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34711198›Full record

SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2021

COVID-19 transmission during swimming-related activities: a rapid systematic review.

Sally Yaacoub, Joanne Khabsa, Rayane El-Khoury, Amena El-Harakeh, Tamara Lotfi, Zahra Saad, Zeina Itani, Assem M Khamis, Ibrahim El Mikati, Carlos A Cuello-Garcia and 5 more

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Pseudoscience and fraudulent products for COVID-19 management.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2022
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors at 5 institutions in 5 countries.

Sally YaacoubClinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Joanne KhabsaClinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Rayane El-KhouryClinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Amena El-HarakehClinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Tamara LotfiHealth Research Methods, Evidence & Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Zahra SaadClinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Zeina ItaniClinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Assem M KhamisHull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, England.
Ibrahim El MikatiFaculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Carlos A Cuello-GarciaHealth Research Methods, Evidence & Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Francisca Verdugo-PaivaEpistemonikos Foundation, Santiago, Chile.
Gabriel RadaEpistemonikos Foundation, Santiago, Chile.
Holger J SchünemannHealth Research Methods, Evidence & Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Nesrine RizkDepartment of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, 11-0236 / CRI (E15), Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.
Elie A AklDepartment of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, 11-0236 / CRI (E15), Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon. ea32@aub.edu.lb.
American University of Beirut Medical Center · LBAmerican University of Beirut · LBMcMaster University · CAPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile · CLUniversity of Hull · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere are uncertainties about mitigating strategies for swimming-related activities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an opportunity to learn from the experience of previous re-openings to better plan the future one. Our objectives are to systematically review the evidence on (1) the association between engaging in swimming-related activities and COVID-19 transmission; and (2) the effects of strategies for preventing COVID-19 transmission during swimming-related activities.

methodsWe conducted a rapid systematic review. We searched in the L·OVE (Living OVerview of Evidence) platform for COVID-19. The searches covered the period from the inception date of each database until April 19, 2021. We included non-randomized studies for the review on association of COVID-19 transmission and swimming-related activities. We included guidance documents reporting on the strategies for prevention of COVID-19 transmission during swimming-related activities. We also included studies on the efficacy and safety of the strategies. Teams of two reviewers independently assessed article eligibility. For the guidance documents, a single reviewer assessed the eligibility and a second reviewer verified the judgement. Teams of two reviewers extracted data independently. We summarized the findings of included studies narratively. We synthesized information from guidance documents according to the identified topics and subtopics, and presented them in tabular and narrative formats.

resultsWe identified three studies providing very low certainty evidence for the association between engaging in swimming-related activities and COVID-19 transmission. The analysis of 50 eligible guidance documents identified 11 topics: ensuring social distancing, ensuring personal hygiene, using personal protective equipment, eating and drinking, maintaining the pool, managing frequently touched surfaces, ventilation of indoor spaces, screening and management of sickness, delivering first aid, raising awareness, and vaccination. One study assessing the efficacy of strategies to prevent COVID-19 transmission did not find an association between compliance with precautionary restrictions and COVID-19 transmission.

conclusionsThere are major gaps in the research evidence of relevance to swimming-related activities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the synthesis of the identified strategies from guidance documents can inform public health management strategies for swimming-related activities, particularly in future re-opening plans.

Indexed as

COVID-19PandemicsHumansSARS-CoV-2SwimmingCoronavirusCOVID-19Personal protective equipmentRecreationSocial distancingSwimming

Identifiers

PMID34711198
PMCPMC8553516
OpenAlexW3209454683

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.