Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) interventions to control COVID-19 An Overview of Systematic Reviews

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1. 

   PREreview

   Dec 5, 2023

   This Zenodo record is a permanently preserved version of a Structured PREreview. You can view the complete PREreview at https://prereview.org/reviews/10258978.

   Does the introduction explain the objective of the research presented in the preprint? Yes Yes, the introduction of the preprint does explain the objective of the research. It outlines the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread implementation of Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM), and the need for a comprehensive synthesis of existing literature on the effectiveness and unintended consequences of these interventions. The authors clearly state their intention to conduct an overview of systematic reviews, specifying the outcomes they aim to assess, such as the impact on …

   This Zenodo record is a permanently preserved version of a Structured PREreview. You can view the complete PREreview at https://prereview.org/reviews/10258978.

   Does the introduction explain the objective of the research presented in the preprint? Yes Yes, the introduction of the preprint does explain the objective of the research. It outlines the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread implementation of Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM), and the need for a comprehensive synthesis of existing literature on the effectiveness and unintended consequences of these interventions. The authors clearly state their intention to conduct an overview of systematic reviews, specifying the outcomes they aim to assess, such as the impact on transmission, health systems, non-COVID-19 health outcomes, and social and economic consequences. The overarching goal is to provide insights that can inform decision-making by the public, health workforce, and policymakers, shaping future policies and research related to PHSM in the context of managing and controlling the spread of COVID-19.

   Are the methods well-suited for this research? Highly appropriate The methods outlined in the preprint appear to be well-suited for the research objectives. The authors have carefully designed a comprehensive approach to conduct an overview of systematic reviews on the effectiveness and unintended consequences of Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have established clear eligibility criteria for systematic reviews, specified the population and interventions of interest, and outlined a robust search strategy using a validated repository. The inclusion of a methodological assessment using the AMSTAR tool 2 adds rigor to the evaluation of the quality of included reviews. The data extraction process, including the extraction of key variables from the included studies and the synthesis of results, is systematic and thorough. The authors have also addressed the issue of overlapping reviews appropriately, considering the purpose of the overview.

   Are the conclusions supported by the data? Neither supported nor unsupported The preprint doesn't provide the actual data or conclusions since it outlines the methodology for an upcoming study rather than presenting the results. Therefore, we cannot evaluate whether the conclusions are supported by the data because the data itself is not presented in the preprint. The document primarily focuses on detailing the plan for conducting an overview of systematic reviews, including the criteria for review inclusion, search methods, methodological assessments, and data extraction processes. The conclusions and findings will be derived from the systematic reviews included in the overview, and this information is not yet available in the preprint.

   Are the data presentations, including visualizations, well-suited to represent the data? Neither appropriate and clear nor inappropriate and unclear The preprint does not provide actual data or visualizations as it outlines the methodology for an upcoming study. Therefore, there are no data presentations or visualizations included in the document. The preprint primarily focuses on explaining the planned methods for conducting an overview of systematic reviews, detailing eligibility criteria, search strategies, and data extraction processes. Any data presentations or visualizations will likely be part of the future study's results and would not be found in the preprint.

   How clearly do the authors discuss, explain, and interpret their findings and potential next steps for the research? Neither clearly nor unclearly The preprint does not include actual findings or interpretations since it primarily serves as a detailed protocol for a future study. Therefore, the authors do not discuss or interpret specific findings in this document. However, the preprint does clearly discuss and explain the planned methodology for the overview of systematic reviews. It provides a thorough explanation of the eligibility criteria, search methods, methodological assessments, and data extraction processes. While it outlines the planned approach comprehensively, any discussion of actual findings and interpretation will be part of the future study once conducted. As for potential next steps, the preprint mentions that the overview aims to inform decisions by the public, health workforce, and policymakers, shaping future policies and research related to Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The document doesn't explicitly outline specific next steps beyond the planned overview, as it is primarily focused on the methodological aspects of the upcoming research.

   Is the preprint likely to advance academic knowledge? Somewhat likely Yes, the preprint is likely to advance academic knowledge. It outlines a comprehensive methodology for conducting an overview of systematic reviews on the effectiveness and unintended consequences of Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. By synthesizing existing literature, the study has the potential to provide a consolidated and insightful understanding of the impact of various PHSM interventions. The planned systematic review aims to cover a broad range of outcomes, including transmission-related outcomes, health systems outcomes, non-COVID-19 health outcomes, and unintended social and economic outcomes. Such a holistic approach can contribute valuable insights to academic knowledge, helping researchers, policymakers, and practitioners better understand the effectiveness and potential consequences of PHSM strategies. Moreover, the detailed methodology outlined in the preprint demonstrates a thoughtful and rigorous approach to evidence synthesis, which enhances the credibility and reliability of the upcoming study's findings. Overall, the preprint lays the groundwork for a study that has the potential to contribute significantly to the academic understanding of the impact of PHSM interventions in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

   Would it benefit from language editing? Yes The language in the preprint is generally clear and well-structured, with technical terms and concepts explained adequately. However, as with any academic document, there's always potential for improvement through language editing. A fresh set of eyes could help refine the clarity of certain sentences and ensure a consistent and polished style throughout the document.

   Would you recommend this preprint to others? Yes, it's of high quality I would recommend this preprint to others who are interested in the methodology of systematic reviews, evidence synthesis, and the impact of Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides a detailed and well-structured overview of the planned study, outlining the criteria for review inclusion, search strategies, methodological assessments, and data extraction processes.

   Is it ready for attention from an editor, publisher or broader audience? Yes, as it is

   Competing interests

   The author declares that they have no competing interests.

   Read the original source
2. 

   Version published to 10.1101/2023.11.21.23298387v1 on medRxiv

   Nov 22, 2023