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. 2022 Dec;27(6):334-344.
doi: 10.1136/bmjebm-2021-111825. Epub 2022 Jan 27.

Randomized trials on non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19: a scoping review

Julian Hirt  1   2 , Perrine Janiaud  3 , Lars G Hemkens  1   4   5
Affiliations

Randomized trials on non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19: a scoping review

Julian Hirt et al. BMJ Evid Based Med. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: We aimed at providing a systematic overview of randomised trials assessing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to prevent COVID-19.

Design: Scoping review.

Methods: We included all randomised trials assessing NPIs to prevent COVID-19 in any country and setting registered in ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform using the COVID-evidence platform (until 17 August 2021). We searched for corresponding publications in MEDLINE/PubMed, Google Scholar, the Living Overview of Evidence platform, and the Cochrane COVID-19 registry as well as for results posted in registries (until 14 November 2021). Descriptive statistics using numbers and percentages were used in the narrative synthesis of the results.

Results: We identified 41 randomised trials. Of them, 12 were completed (29.3%) including 9 with published results. The 41 trials planned to recruit a median of 1700 participants (IQR 588-9500, range 30-35 256 399) with a median planned duration of 8 months (IQR 3-14, range 1-24). Most came from the USA (n=11, 26.8%). The trials mostly assessed protective equipment (n=11, 26.8%), COVID-19-related information and education programmes (n=9, 22.0%), access to mass events under specific safety measures (n=5, 12.2%), testing and screening strategies (n=5, 12.2%) and hygiene management (n=5, 12.2%).

Conclusions: Worldwide, 41 randomised trials assessing NPIs have been initiated with published results available to inform policy decisions for only 9 of them. A long-term research agenda including behavioural, environmental, social and systems level interventions is urgently needed to guide policies and practices in the current and future public health emergencies.

Keywords: global health; infectious diseases; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Retrieval and trial selection process. Abbreviations: ICTRP, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform; NPI, non-pharmaceutical interventions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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