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

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

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114946

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Previous work, for instance, has shown that people were less willing to distance from family and friends than from strangers [ 8 ]. Similarly, contexts differ in the physical opportunities they provide to distance, for instance because some are more crowded than others [ 9 , 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context Matters: Patterns in Physical Distancing Behavior Across Situations and Over Time During the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands

Bussemakers,

van Dijk,

van den Putte

et al. 2023

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

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Background Physical distancing is an effective preventative measure during respiratory infectious disease outbreaks. Prior studies on distancing behaviors have largely ignored context characteristics (physical, social) and time. Purpose We investigated patterns in physical distancing over time and across situations, as well as sociodemographic variation herein. Methods We employed data from five rounds of a cohort study conducted throughout the pandemic by the Dutch public health institute (RIVM; N ≈ 50.000 per round). We conducted Latent Class Analyses to investigate patterns of physical distancing in a range of situations, followed by regression models to investigate associations between distancing behavior and sociodemographic and context characteristics. Results Participants differed in their general tendency to adhere to distancing guidelines across situations, but there were also substantial differences in distancing behavior between situations, particularly at work, with friends and family and outdoors. Distancing at work was strongly associated with work environment characteristics. Younger age groups reported less distancing behavior, particularly with close relations (friends or family) and at work. In periods when the pandemic situation was most severe, people adhered more strongly to distancing guidelines and age differences were most pronounced during these periods. Conclusions Physical and social context matters for physical distancing, highlighting the importance of developing strategies for pandemic preparedness that improve opportunities for physical distancing (e.g., reducing crowding, one-way traffic) and accommodate young people to safely meet even in times of high pandemic severity and lockdowns. Future studies should account for the physical and social context in which distancing behavior is observed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context Matters: Patterns in Physical Distancing Behavior Across Situations and Over Time During the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands

Bussemakers,

van Dijk,

van den Putte

et al. 2023

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

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“…Over the past 2 years of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ( 1 ), physical distancing was deployed as a preventive public health measure to reduce the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This physical distancing had at least two unintended consequences for older adults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefits of a 3-month cycle of weekly virtual museum tours in community dwelling older adults: Results of a randomized controlled trial

et al. 2022

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BackgroundMuseums can be instrumental in fostering social inclusion and may improve the overall health of the older population. Over the course of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic, many older adults suffered as a result of confinement measures, which may have accelerated the processes that lead to physical frailty and increased mental health risks. This study aims to examine whether a 3-month cycle of weekly virtual tours of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) may have improved feelings of social inclusion, wellbeing and quality of life, and reduced physical frailty in older adults living within the community of Montreal.Methods and designA total of 106 older adults, who were community-dwellers living in Montreal (Quebec, Canada), were recruited for a randomized controlled trial in two parallel groups (intervention with n = 53 vs control with n = 53) between January and April 2022. The intervention consisted of a 3-month cycle of weekly virtual museum tours of the MMFA. Social isolation, wellbeing, quality of life and frailty were evaluated using validated scales that were assessed on a web platform at baseline (M0) and after 3 months (M3) in the intervention group. The control group completed the same assessment according to the same schedule. The outcomes were the mean scores at M0 and M3, and changes in mean scores between M0 and M3.ResultsThe intervention group showed significant improvements in their social isolation, wellbeing, quality of life and frailty scores when compared to the control group, the highest benefits being observed with frailty.ConclusionThe results suggest that the 3-month cycle of weekly virtual MMFA tours may improve social inclusion, physical and mental health in community-dwelling older adults living in Montreal.Trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05046288, identifier NCT05046288.

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“…Numerous studies focus on the effects of nudges on protective behaviours. In a systematic review, Epton et al (2022) were interested in the effectiveness of interventions and behaviour change techniques which promote adherence to physical distancing. They showed that future punishment, with government fines, are ineffective.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health protective behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk adaptation or habituation?

Martin-Lapoirie,

McColl,

Gallopel-Morvan

et al. 2024

Social Science & Medicine

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

Cited by 8 publications

References 43 publications

Context Matters: Patterns in Physical Distancing Behavior Across Situations and Over Time During the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands

Context Matters: Patterns in Physical Distancing Behavior Across Situations and Over Time During the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands

Benefits of a 3-month cycle of weekly virtual museum tours in community dwelling older adults: Results of a randomized controlled trial

Health protective behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk adaptation or habituation?

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