Journal article : Review
Decision to self-isolate during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: a rapid scoping review
- Abstract:
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Objective Testing for COVID-19 was a key component of the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This strategy relied on positive individuals self-isolating to reduce transmission, making isolation the lynchpin in the public health approach. Therefore, we scoped evidence to systematically identify and categorise barriers and facilitators to compliance with self-isolation guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, to inform public health strategies in future pandemics.
Design A rapid scoping review was conducted.
Search strategy Key terms were used to search literature databases (PubMed, Scopus and the WHO COVID-19 Research Database, on 7 November 2022), Google Scholar and stakeholder-identified manuscripts, ultimately including evidence published in English from UK-based studies conducted between 2020 and 2022.
Data extraction and synthesis Data were extracted and synthesised into themes, organised broadly into capability, opportunity and motivation, and reviewed with key stakeholders from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Results We included 105 sources, with 63 identified from UKHSA and used to inform their decision-making during the pandemic. Influences on the decision to comply with isolation guidance were categorised into six themes: perceived ability to isolate; information and guidance; logistics; social influences, including trust; perceived value; and perceived consequences. Individuals continuously assessed these factors in deciding whether or not to comply with guidance and self-isolate.
Conclusions Decisions to self-isolate after a positive test were influenced by multiple factors, including individuals’ beliefs, concerns, priorities and personal circumstances. Future testing strategies must facilitate meaningful financial, practical and mental health support to allow individuals to overcome the perceived and actual negative consequences of isolating. Clear, consistent communication of the purpose and procedures of isolating will also be critical to support compliance with self-isolation guidance, and should leverage people’s perceived value in protecting others. Building public trust is also essential, but requires investment before the next pandemic starts.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 807.6KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-084437
Authors
- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/018h10037
- Grant:
- C80260/PRO5331
- Publisher:
- BMJ Publishing Group
- Journal:
- BMJ Open More from this journal
- Volume:
- 14
- Issue:
- 3
- Article number:
- e084437
- Place of publication:
- England
- Publication date:
- 2024-03-29
- Acceptance date:
- 2024-02-27
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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2044-6055
- ISSN:
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2044-6055
- Pmid:
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38553081
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Subtype:
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Review
- Pubs id:
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1987498
- Local pid:
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pubs:1987498
- Source identifiers:
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W4393346131
- Deposit date:
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2025-01-11
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Keene et al.
- Copyright date:
- 2024
- Rights statement:
- © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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