Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35605431›Full record

SynthesisSocial science & medicine (1982)2022

Interventions to promote physical distancing behaviour during infectious disease pandemics or epidemics: A systematic review.

Tracy Epton, Daniela Ghio, Lisa M Ballard, Sarah F Allen, Angelos P Kassianos, Rachael Hewitt, Katherine Swainston, Wendy Irene Fynn, Vickie Rowland, Juliette Westbrook and 20 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Social science & medicine (1982), 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Template for Rapid Iterative Consensus of Experts (TRICE).International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021
    Article
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

30 authors.

Tracy EptonManchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK. Electronic address: tracy.epton@manchester.ac.uk.
Daniela GhioManchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK.
Lisa M BallardFaculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK.
Sarah F AllenSchool of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, Teesside University, UK.
Angelos P KassianosDepartment of Applied Health Research, University College London, UK.
Rachael HewittSchool of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, UK.
Katherine SwainstonPsychology, Centre for Applied Psychological Science, Teesside University, UK.
Wendy Irene FynnIEHC, University College London, UK.
Vickie RowlandPublic Health, London Borough of Havering, UK.
Juliette WestbrookDepartment of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Elizabeth JenkinsonFaculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
Alison MorrowNHS Fife, UK.
Grant J McGeechanCentre for Applied Psychological Science, Teesside University, UK.
Sabina StanescuSchool of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Aysha A YousufLancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation, UK.
Nisha SharmaDepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, UK.
Suhana BegumDepartment of Psychology, City University of London, UK; Surrey County Council, UK.
Eleni KarasouliWarwick Clinical Trials Unit, University of Warwick, UK.
Daniel ScanlanResearch and Communication, Education Support, London, N5 1EW, UK.
Gillian W ShorterCentre for Improving Health Related Quality of Life, Queen's University Belfast, UK.
Madelynne A ArdenCentre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology, Sheffield Hallam University, UK.
Christopher J ArmitageManchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK; Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester, UK; Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, UK; NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, UK.
Daryl B O'ConnorSchool of Psychology, University of Leeds, UK.
Atiya KamalDepartment of Psychology, Birmingham City University, UK.
Emily McBrideDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, UK.
Vivien SwansonUniversity of Stirling, UK.
Jo HartManchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK; Division of Medical Education, University of Manchester, UK.
Lucie Byrne-DavisManchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK; Division of Medical Education, University of Manchester, UK.
Angel ChaterUniversity of Bedfordshire, UK.
John DrurySchool of Psychology, University of Sussex, UK.

Funding

Department of Health
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesPhysical distancing, defined as keeping 1-2m apart when co-located, can prevent cases of droplet or aerosol transmitted infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV2. During the COVID-19 pandemic, distancing was a recommendation or a requirement in many countries. This systematic review aimed to determine which interventions and behavior change techniques (BCTs) are effective in promoting adherence to distancing and through which potential mechanisms of action (MOAs).

methodsSix databases were searched. The review included studies that were (a) conducted on humans, (b) reported physical distancing interventions, (c) included any comparator (e.g., pre-intervention versus post-intervention; randomized controlled trial), and (d) reported actual distancing or predictors of distancing behavior. Risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. BCTs and potential MoAs were identified in each intervention.

resultsSix articles (with seven studies and 19 comparisons) indicated that distancing interventions could successfully change MoAs and behavior. Successful BCTs (MoAs) included feedback on behavior (e.g., motivation); information about health consequences, salience of health consequences (e.g., beliefs about consequences), demonstration (e.g., beliefs about capabilities), and restructuring the physical environment (e.g., environmental context and resources). The most promising interventions were proximity buzzers, directional systems, and posters with loss-framed messages that demonstrated the behaviors.

conclusionsThe evidence indicates several BCTs and potential MoAs that should be targeted in interventions and highlights gaps that should be the focus of future research.

Indexed as

Communicable DiseasesCOVID-19HumansPandemicsPhysical DistancingRNA, ViralSARS-CoV-2RNA, ViralCOVID-19Physical distancingSocial distancingSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID35605431
PMCPMC8957361

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.