Communication to promote physical distancing for COVID-19
Citation: Ryan RE, Silke C, Parkhill A, et al. Communication to promote and support physical distancing for COVID-19 prevention and control. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2023;(10):CD015144.
Language: Abstract available in EN, ES, FA, and FR. Full publication available in EN.
Free to view: Yes.
Funding sources: National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia). Health Research Board and the HSC Public Health Agency (Ireland).
What is this? In this Cochrane review, the authors searched for guidelines or reviews about communication to promote physical distancing for COVID-19 and other communicable diseases. For an initial rapid review, the authors searched for material published before May 2020; in this update, they searched in August 2021 for subsequent publications. The authors found 68 studies, nine of which were from low- and middle-income countries.
What was found: The authors identified six major themes: 1) strengthen public trust and counter misinformation; 2) involve communities to improve dissemination, accessibility, and acceptability of information; 3) tailor communication to reach all groups within a population; 4) provide clear, consistent, actionable, and up-to-date information; 5) support the implementation of public health measures; 6) adapt communication to respond to changing needs.
Implications: The authors of the review stated the importance for communication strategies to consider the changing nature of the pandemic and the varying needs of different populations. Communication should provide clear and accurate information about the rationale for the required measures, how to comply with them, and the services available to support them. Information should be clear, accessible, and consistent, because inadequate or confusing information can damage acceptance and adherence to preventive measures.
Other considerations: The authors of the review discussed their findings in the context of place of residence, race, culture, language, occupation, education, socioeconomic status, and personal characteristics.
This summary was prepared by Riwa Deghaim, edited by Sneha Bhadti and finalized by William Summerskill.