Investigating and evaluating evidence of the behavioural determinants of adherence to social distancing measures - A protocol for a scoping review of COVID-19 research

Chris Noone; Nikolett Warner; Molly Byrne; Hannah Durand; Kim L Lavoie; Brian E McGuire; Jenny Mc Sharry; Oonagh Meade; Eimear Morrissey; Gerry Molloy; Laura O'Connor; Elaine Toomey

doi:10.12688/hrbopenres.13099.2

Investigating and evaluating evidence of the behavioural determinants of adherence to social distancing measures - A protocol for a scoping review of COVID-19 research

HRB Open Res. 2020 Sep 10:3:46. doi: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13099.2. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland.
² Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H2L 2C4, Canada.
³ Montreal Behavioral Medicine Centre, CIUSSS-NIM - Hôpital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H4J 1C5, Canada.
⁴ School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland.
⁵ School of Allied Health, University of Limerick, Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland.

Abstract

Background: The WHO has declared the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic. With no vaccine currently available, using behavioural measures to reduce the spread of the virus within the population is an important tool in mitigating the effects of this pandemic. As such, social distancing measures are being implemented globally and have proven an effective tool in slowing the large-scale spread of the virus. Aim: This scoping review will focus on answering key questions about the state of the evidence on the behavioural determinants of adherence to social distancing measures in research on COVID-19. Methods: A scoping review will be conducted in accordance with guidelines for best practice. Literature searches will be conducted using online databases and grey literature sources. Databases will include Medline, Web of Science, Embase and PsycInfo, alongside relevant pre-print servers. Grey literature will be searched on Google Scholar. Screening, data extraction and quality appraisal will be conducted by members of the research team, with any discrepancies resolved by consensus discussion. Quality appraisal will be conducted using the Cochrane's ROBINS-I tool, the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist where appropriate. Results will be analysed by mapping findings onto the Theoretical Domains Framework and visualising characteristics of the included studies using EviAtlas. This scoping review is pre-registered with Open Science Framework. Conclusions The results of this study may facilitate the systematic development of behavioural interventions to increase adherence to social distancing measures.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; pandemic; physical distancing; social distancing.

Grants and funding

This study was funded by a summer scholarship award [CBES-2018-001] from Health Research Board-Trials Methodology Research Network, Evidence Synthesis Ireland and Cochrane Ireland for NW to work with CN on this review.