Article
A living overview of randomized trials on non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19
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Authors
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Julian Hirt
- University of Basel, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Schweiz; Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, International Graduate Academy, Institute for Health and Nursing Science, Medical Faculty, Deutschland
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Perrine Janiaud
- University of Basel, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Schweiz
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Pascal Düblin
- University of Basel, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Schweiz
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Lars G. Hemkens
- University of Basel, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Schweiz; Berlin Institute of Health, Meta-Research Innovation Center Berlin (METRIC-B), Berlin, Deutschland
| Published: | August 30, 2022 |
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Outline
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Background/research question: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were taken worldwide to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim at providing a living overview of randomized trials assessing NPIs to prevent COVID-19.
Methods: We include all randomized trials assessing NPIs to prevent COVID-19 in any country and setting registered in ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform using the COVID-evidence platform. We search for corresponding publications in MEDLINE/PubMed, Google Scholar, the Living Overview of Evidence platform (L-OVE), and the Cochrane COVID-19 registry as well as for results posted in registries.
Results: As of August 2021, we identified 41 randomized trials [1]. 25 trials (70.0%) planned to start in 2020, and 16 (30.0%) planned to start in 2021. Of the 41 trials, 11 were completed (26.8%) including 7 with published results. The 41 trials planned to recruit a median of 1,700 participants (IQR, 588 to 9,500, range 30 to 35,256,399) with a median planned duration of 8 months (IQR, 3 to 14, range 1 to 24), mostly from the United States (n=11, 26.8%). The trials planned to assess protective equipment (n=11, 26.8%), COVID-19-related information and education programs (n=9, 22.0%), access to mass events under specific safety measures (n=5, 12.2%), testing and screening strategies (n=5, 12.2%), hygiene management (n=5, 12.2%), and other interventions (n=6, 14.6%).
Conclusion: As of August 2021, 41 randomized trials assessing NPIs have been initiated worldwide with published results available to inform policy decisions for only 7 of them. This is a tiny fraction of more than 4,000 randomized trials on COVID-19 registered globally. A living overview of randomized trials on non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 informs policies and practices in the current and future public health emergencies.
Competing interests: All authors declare no competing interests.
References
- 1.
- Hirt J, Janiaud P, Hemkens LG. Randomized trials on non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 as of August 2021 a meta-epidemiological analysis [Preprint]. medRxiv. 2021. DOI: 10.1101/2021.08.20.21261687
