Effectiveness of digital interventions to improve household and community infection prevention and control behaviours and to reduce incidence of respiratory and/or gastro-intestinal infections: a rapid systematic review

BMC Public Health

Ru-Yu Xia¹  Julia Groot²  Ben Ainsworth²  Sarah Denford³  Michael Moore⁴  Paul Little⁴  Xiao-Yang Hu⁴  Merlin Willcox⁴  Tim Chadborn⁵  Richard Amlôt⁵  Rachel Gledhill⁵  Natalie Gold⁶  Lucy Yardley⁷  Sascha Miller⁸  Lauren Towler⁸ 

[1] Centre for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China;Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK;Faculty of Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School (PHS), University of Bristol, Bristol, UK;School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK;Primary Care Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK;Public Health England Behavioural Insights, Public Health England, London, UK;Public Health England Behavioural Insights, Public Health England, London, UK;Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, England;School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK;School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK;School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK;

关键词: Behaviour;    Behaviour change;    Behavioural medicine;    Community health;    COVID-19;    Digital medicine;    eHealth;    Hygiene;    Handwashing;    Infection control;    Novel coronavirus;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-021-11150-8

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundDigital interventions have potential to efficiently support improved hygiene practices to reduce transmission of COVID-19.ObjectiveTo evaluate the evidence for digital interventions to improve hygiene practices within the community.MethodsWe reviewed articles published between 01 January 2000 and 26 May 2019 that presented a controlled trial of a digital intervention to improve hygiene behaviours in the community. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), China National Knowledge Infrastructure and grey literature. Trials in hospitals were excluded, as were trials aiming at prevention of sexually transmitted infections; only target diseases with transmission mechanisms similar to COVID-19 (e.g. respiratory and gastrointestinal infections) were included. Trials had to evaluate a uniquely digital component of an intervention. Study designs were limited to randomised controlled trials, controlled before-and-after trials, and interrupted time series analyses. Outcomes could be either incidence of infections or change in hygiene behaviours. The Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to assess study quality.ResultsWe found seven studies that met the inclusion criteria. Six studies reported successfully improving self-reported hygiene behaviour or health outcomes, but only one of these six trials, Germ Defence, confirmed improvements using objective measures (reduced consultations and antibiotic prescriptions). Settings included kindergartens, workplaces, and service station restrooms. Modes of delivery were diverse: WeChat, website, text messages, audio messages to mobiles, electronic billboards, and electronic personal care records. Four interventions targeted parents of young children with educational materials. Two targeted the general population; these also used behaviour change techniques or theory to inform the intervention. Only one trial had low risk of bias, Germ Defence; the most common concerns were lack of information about the randomisation, possible bias in reporting of behavioural outcomes, and lack of an analysis plan and possible selective reporting of results.ConclusionThere was only one trial that was judged to be at low risk of bias, Germ Defence, which reduced incidence and severity of illness, as confirmed by objective measures. Further evaluation is required to determine the effectiveness of the other interventions reviewed.Trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42020189919.

【 授权许可】

CC BY