Effect of digital messages from health professionals on COVID-19-related outcomes: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Keisuke Kuwahara; Masahiko Sakamoto; Ryohei Ishizuka; Mio Kato; Miki Akiyama; Hirono Ishikawa; Kosuke Kiyohara

Journal of Infection and Public Health (Oct 2023)

Effect of digital messages from health professionals on COVID-19-related outcomes: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Keisuke Kuwahara,
Masahiko Sakamoto,
Ryohei Ishizuka,
Mio Kato,
Miki Akiyama,
Hirono Ishikawa,
Kosuke Kiyohara

Affiliations

Keisuke Kuwahara: Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Health Data Science, Graduate School of Data Science, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan; Correspondence to: Department of Health Data Science, Graduate School of Data Science, Yokohama City University, 22–2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanazawa 236-0027, Japan.
Masahiko Sakamoto: Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Ryohei Ishizuka: Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Mio Kato: Office of Crisis Communication, Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Miki Akiyama: Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, 5322, Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
Hirono Ishikawa: Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Kosuke Kiyohara: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Home Economics, Otsuma Women’s University, 12 Sanban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 10
pp. 1682 – 1689

Abstract

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Effectiveness of health professionals’ messages via digital tools on COVID-19-related outcomes remains unknown. In this systematic review, we examined this issue by searching randomized controlled trials in six databases until August, 2022 (PROSPERO, CRD 42022350788). Risk of bias was assessed using revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Primary outcomes were COVID-19 infections, preventive behaviors, and factors that support behavioral change. Seven trials with 16 reports (some reported two or more outcomes) were included. One trial showed that physician videos distributed by Facebook ads significantly reduced COVID-19 infections. Five of 6 reports showed that interventions can promote non-pharmaceutical preventive behaviors, vaccination, or information-seeking behaviors and half of the results were significant. Interventions improved the factors that support behavioral change. 14 reports had some concerns of bias risk and 2 had high risk of bias. Our findings suggest that digital messages by health professionals may help reduce COVID-19 infections through promoting behavioral change.

Published in Journal of Infection and Public Health

ISSN: 1876-0341 (Print); 1876-035X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases; Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-infection-and-public-health

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