Impacts of public health and social measures on COVID-19 in Europe: a review and modified Delphi technique

Frontiers in Public Health

Public Health

Marília Silva Paulo¹  Mariana Peyroteo²  Luís Velez Lapão³  Cara Pries⁴  Claudia Habl⁴  Mélanie R. Maia⁵ 

[1] CHRC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal;Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates;CHRC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal;UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal;LASI, Laboratório Associado de Sistemas Inteligentes, Guimarães, Portugal;CHRC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal;UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal;LASI, Laboratório Associado de Sistemas Inteligentes, Guimarães, Portugal;WHO Collaborating Center for Health Workforce Policy and Planning, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal;Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (Austrian National Public Health Institute), Vienna, Austria;UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal;LASI, Laboratório Associado de Sistemas Inteligentes, Guimarães, Portugal;

关键词: COVID-19;    health policy;    public health and social measures;    non-pharmaceutical interventions;    modified Delphi expert consensus process;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2023.1226922

 received in 2023-06-02, accepted in 2023-08-22,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionThe emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 led countries to implement a set of public health and social measures (PHSMs) attempting to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This study aims to review the existing literature regarding key results of the PHSMs that were implemented, and to identify the PHSMs considered to have most impacted the epidemiological curve of COVID-19 over the last years during different stages of the pandemic.MethodsThe PHSM under study were selected from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT), supplemented by topics presented during the Rapid Exchange Forum (REF) meetings in the scope of the Population Health Information Research Infrastructure (PHIRI) project (H2020). The evidence- based review was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to identify which reviews have already been published about each PHSMs and their results. In addition, two modified Delphi panel surveys were conducted among subject matter experts from 30 European countries to uphold the results found.ResultsThere were 3,212 studies retrieved from PubMed, 162 full texts assessed for eligibility and 35 included in this PHSMs summary. The measures with clearest evidence on their positive impact from the evidence-based review include social distancing, hygiene measures, mask measures and testing policies. From the modified Delphi panel, the PHSMs considered most significant in the four periods analyzed were case isolation at home, face coverings, testing policy, and social distancing, respectively.DiscussionThe evidence found has significant implications for both researchers and policymakers. The study of PHSMs’ impact on COVID-19 illustrates lessons learned for future pan- and epidemics, serving as a contribution to the health systems resilience discussion. These lessons, drawn from both the available scientific evidence and the perspectives of relevant subject matter experts, should also be considered in educational and preparedness programs and activities in the public health space.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Paulo, Peyroteo, Maia, Pries, Habl and Lapão.