Non-pharmacological interventions for Covid-19: How to improve adherence

Non pharmacological interventions (NPIs) have been widely recommended in the battle against Covid-19. Numerous NPIs, including personal protection, social distancing, and environment and travel measures, have been implemented globally to reduce Covid-19 incidence and mortality. Adherence to these measures is crucial in determining their effectiveness. This article discusses some important barriers and facilitators to adherence, based on existing knowledge and mainly recent literature in the area. We propose three ways in which adherence may be improved, including: (i) targeting individual-level barriers; (ii) addressing structural and societal factors; and (iii) facilitating healthy social norms/social emotions. Collectively, these highlight the important role of individual behavior (and adherence) in containing, and mitigating the impact of, Covid-19 now and into the future