ReviewJournal of public health in Africa2025
Factors influencing mask use and physical distancing for COVID-19: A qualitative evidence synthesis.
Review in Journal of public health in Africa, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Health and care workers' perceptions of PPE and physical distancing for COVID-19: A qualitative evidence synthesis.Journal of public health in Africa · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a bundle of precautions to reduce community transmission of COVID-19, including mask use and physical distancing. However, there is evidence that suggests poor adherence to these health measures community settings. Aim: To summarise qualitative research evidence on the perceptions and factors influencing masks use and physical distancing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting: We included studies conducted in community settings. Method: An electronic database search was conducted using search terms derived from the inclusion criteria and combined in a peer-reviewed search strategy. Thirty studies were sampled. Qualitative data analysis was performed using the thematic synthesis approach. The confidence in each review finding was ascertained using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations - Confidence in the evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CERQual) approach. Results: Ten analytical themes of low to high confidence were identified. Values, belief systems and cultural norms shaped the perception and uptake of mask use and physical distancing. Key barriers included the cost of masks, limited infrastructure for spatial separation and inconsistent political or government messaging, while visual cues and social responsibility facilitated adherence. Conclusion: Personal values and preferences influenced individuals' adherence to these public health measures. Political or government messaging is important to aid understanding and adherence. Contribution: Insights provided by this synthesis can support future emergency preparedness and response to outbreaks of acute respiratory infections by providing policy makers with information needed to make contextually relevant recommendations to enhance adherence.
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Registered trials
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.