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; Elizabeth Jenkinson; Alison Morrow; Grant J. McGeechan; Sabina Stanescu; Aysha A. Yousuf; Nisha Sharma; Suhana Begum; Eleni Karasouli; Daniel Scanlan; Gillian W. Shorter; Madelynne A. Arden; Christopher J. Armitage; Daryl B. O'Connor; Atiya Kamal; Emily McBride; Vivien Swanson; Jo Hart; Lucie Byrne-Davis; Angel Chater; John Drury

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114946

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, Elizabeth Jenkinson, Alison Morrow, Grant J. McGeechan, Sabina Stanescu, Aysha A. Yousuf, Nisha Sharma, Suhana Begum, Eleni Karasouli, Daniel Scanlan, Gillian W. ShorterMadelynne A. Arden, Christopher J. Armitage, Daryl B. O'Connor, Atiya Kamal, Emily McBride, Vivien Swanson, Jo Hart, Lucie Byrne-Davis, Angel Chater, John Drury

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Objectives
Physical 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).

Methods
Six 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.

Results
Six reports (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.

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

Original language	English
Article number	114946
Number of pages	16
Journal	Social Science & Medicine
Volume	303
Early online date	20 May 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114946
Publication status	Published - 01 Jun 2022

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Interventions to promote physical distancing behaviour during infectious disease pandemics or epidemics: a systematic review
Copyright 2022 the authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article published under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the author and source are cited.
Final published version, 923 KBLicence: CC BY

5 Citations
1 Protocol
1 Working paper

PREPRINT: Systematic review of interventions to promote the performance of physical distancing behaviours during pandemics/epidemics of infectious diseases spread via aerosols or droplets
Epton, T., Ghio, D., Ballard, L., Allen, S. F., Kassianos, A. P., Hewitt, R., Swainston, K., Fynn, W., Rowland, V., Westbrook, J., Jenkinson, E., Morrow, A., McGeechan, G., Stanescu, S., Yousuf, A. A., Sharma, N., Begum, S., Karasouli, E., Scanlan, D. & Shorter, G. & 10 others, Arden, M. A., Armitage, C., O'Connor, D., Kamal, A., McBride, E., Swanson, V., Hart, J., Byrne-Davis, L., Chater, A. & Drury, J., 13 Jun 2021, PsyArXiv Preprints.
Research output: Working paper
What interventions are effective for promoting the performance of physical distancing behaviours during pandemics/epidemics of infectious diseases (spread via aerosols or droplets)?
Epton, T., Byrne-Davis, L., Hart, J., Chater, A., Drury, J., Shorter, G. W. & Kamal, A., 28 Jan 2021, York: Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.
Research output: Other contribution › Protocol › peer-review

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Epton, T., Ghio, D., Ballard, L. M., Allen, S. F., Kassianos, A. P., Hewitt, R., Swainston, K., Fynn, W. I., Rowland, V., Westbrook, J., Jenkinson, E., Morrow, A., McGeechan, G. J., Stanescu, S., Yousuf, A. A., Sharma, N., Begum, S., Karasouli, E., Scanlan, D., ... Drury, J. (2022). Interventions to promote physical distancing behaviour during infectious disease pandemics or epidemics: a systematic review. Social Science & Medicine, 303, Article 114946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114946

@article{c079b3ba4cec4d0ea085f54289e15400,

title = "Interventions to promote physical distancing behaviour during infectious disease pandemics or epidemics: a systematic review",

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 reports (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.",

author = "Tracy Epton and Daniela Ghio and Ballard, {Lisa M.} and Allen, {Sarah F.} and Kassianos, {Angelos P.} and Rachael Hewitt and Katherine Swainston and Fynn, {Wendy Irene} and Vickie Rowland and Juliette Westbrook and Elizabeth Jenkinson and Alison Morrow and McGeechan, {Grant J.} and Sabina Stanescu and Yousuf, {Aysha A.} and Nisha Sharma and Suhana Begum and Eleni Karasouli and Daniel Scanlan and Shorter, {Gillian W.} and Arden, {Madelynne A.} and Armitage, {Christopher J.} and O'Connor, {Daryl B.} and Atiya Kamal and Emily McBride and Vivien Swanson and Jo Hart and Lucie Byrne-Davis and Angel Chater and John Drury",

year = "2022",

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doi = "10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114946",

language = "English",

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Epton, T, Ghio, D, Ballard, LM, Allen, SF, Kassianos, AP, Hewitt, R, Swainston, K, Fynn, WI, Rowland, V, Westbrook, J, Jenkinson, E, Morrow, A, McGeechan, GJ, Stanescu, S, Yousuf, AA, Sharma, N, Begum, S, Karasouli, E, Scanlan, D, Shorter, GW, Arden, MA, Armitage, CJ, O'Connor, DB, Kamal, A, McBride, E, Swanson, V, Hart, J, Byrne-Davis, L, Chater, A & Drury, J 2022, 'Interventions to promote physical distancing behaviour during infectious disease pandemics or epidemics: a systematic review', Social Science & Medicine, vol. 303, 114946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114946

TY - JOUR

T1 - Interventions to promote physical distancing behaviour during infectious disease pandemics or epidemics: a systematic review

AU - Epton, Tracy

AU - Ghio, Daniela

AU - Ballard, Lisa M.

AU - Allen, Sarah F.

AU - Kassianos, Angelos P.

AU - Hewitt, Rachael

AU - Swainston, Katherine

AU - Fynn, Wendy Irene

AU - Rowland, Vickie

AU - Westbrook, Juliette

AU - Jenkinson, Elizabeth

AU - Morrow, Alison

AU - McGeechan, Grant J.

AU - Stanescu, Sabina

AU - Yousuf, Aysha A.

AU - Sharma, Nisha

AU - Begum, Suhana

AU - Karasouli, Eleni

AU - Scanlan, Daniel

AU - Shorter, Gillian W.

AU - Arden, Madelynne A.

AU - Armitage, Christopher J.

AU - O'Connor, Daryl B.

AU - Kamal, Atiya

AU - McBride, Emily

AU - Swanson, Vivien

AU - Hart, Jo

AU - Byrne-Davis, Lucie

AU - Chater, Angel

AU - Drury, John

PY - 2022/6/1

Y1 - 2022/6/1

N2 - 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 reports (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.

AB - 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 reports (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.

U2 - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114946

DO - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114946

M3 - Article

SN - 0277-9536

VL - 303

JO - Social Science & Medicine

JF - Social Science & Medicine

M1 - 114946

ER -

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

Abstract

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Research output

PREPRINT: Systematic review of interventions to promote the performance of physical distancing behaviours during pandemics/epidemics of infectious diseases spread via aerosols or droplets

What interventions are effective for promoting the performance of physical distancing behaviours during pandemics/epidemics of infectious diseases (spread via aerosols or droplets)?

Cite this