Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41267112›Full record

ReviewHealth research policy and systems2025

Informed decisions about public health and social measures.

Andrew D Oxman, Annlaug Selstø, Arnfinn Helleve, Atle Fretheim, Cathinka Halle Julin, Christine Holst, Christopher James Rose, Heather Munthe-Kaas, Ingeborg Hess Elgersma, Jenny Moberg and 7 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Health research policy and systems, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

17 authors.

Andrew D OxmanCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Annlaug SelstøCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Arnfinn HelleveCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Atle FretheimCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway. Atle.Fretheim@fhi.no.
Cathinka Halle JulinCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Christine HolstCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Christopher James RoseCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Heather Munthe-KaasCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Ingeborg Hess ElgersmaCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Jenny MobergCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Mona BjørbækCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Petter ElstrømCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Runar Barstad SolbergCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Sarah E RosenbaumCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Signe FlottorpCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Tone BruunCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.
Unni GopinathanCentre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Evidence, communication, critical thinking and participation are the cornerstones of informed decisions. In this article we discuss each of these in relation to decisions about public health and social measures (PHSM) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and implications for future research. Reliable research evidence of the effects of interventions is particularly important for decisions about what to do because it provides the best basis for estimating the wanted and unwanted effects of doing something. There was little reliable research of the effects of PHSM during the pandemic. For research evidence to be useful to decision-makers, it must be effectively communicated, including how sure we can be about effects or other research findings. Research evidence is essential for making informed decisions, but it is not sufficient. Decision-makers and those affected by the decision must be able to think critically about what to believe and what to do. Many people lack competences and dispositions for thinking critically about PHSM or other interventions. Judgements about PHSM require democratic input, not just expert input. However, there was little public participation in deliberative or decision-making processes about PHSM during the pandemic. There are important uncertainties about the effects of PHSM, how to effectively communicate decisions and evidence about PHSM, how to foster critical thinking about PHSM and how to effectively engage the public in deliberative and decision-making processes about PHSM. Pandemic research and preparedness planning should address those uncertainties.

Indexed as

COVID-19Decision MakingPublic HealthCommunicationCommunity ParticipationHealth PolicyHumansPandemicsSARS-CoV-2Health communicationHealth crisesHealth literacyPandemic preparednessPublic health and social measures

Identifiers

PMID41267112
PMCPMC12636220

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.