CPSTF-Recommended Interventions Relevant for COVID-19 Pandemic

Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommendations and findings cover a range of public health issues and intervention approaches relevant to all Americans. Decision makers may consider using CPSTF-recommended interventions to improve health and prevent disease in communities and other settings such as businesses, military communities, healthcare systems, schools, worksites, faith-based organizations, and public health departments.

Since the initial emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019, its spread has been unrelenting, impacting nearly every aspect of society worldwide. The pandemic has required a substantial response by public health authorities at all levels.1

CPSTF-recommended interventions may be helpful for addressing various public health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, such as declines in well-child visits and recommended vaccinations,2 decreases in cancer screening,3 negative effects on children’s mental health,4 and increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 among people with obesity.5 Some of the intervention approaches apply specific healthcare models such as engaging community health workers and using team-based care; the lessons learned from these models may be applicable in the COVID-19 pandemic to help provide care for specific populations.

Decision makers may consider using the following CPSTF recommendations to inform decisions for their communities and address public health issues that are related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts. Decision makers may also visit the Task Force Findings webpage to search for other CPSTF recommendations and findings.

CPSTF-Recommended Interventions Relevant for COVID-19 Pandemic
Topic Intervention Recommended Economic Finding Population Setting Search for other CPSTF findings
Cancer Interventions engaging community health workers — breast cancer Strong evidence Not enough evidence to determine cost-effectiveness Adults, populations with lower incomes, women Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community Cancer
Interventions engaging community health workers — cervical cancer Strong evidence Cost-effective Adults, populations with lower incomes, women Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community
Interventions engaging community health workers — colorectal cancer Strong evidence Cost-effective Adults, populations with lower incomes Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community
Multicomponent interventions — breast cancer Strong evidence Not enough evidence to determine cost-effectiveness Adults, women Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community
Multicomponent interventions — cervical cancer Strong evidence Cost effective Adults, women Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community
Multicomponent interventions — colorectal cancers Strong evidence Cost effective Adults Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community
Excessive Alcohol Consumption Maintaining Limits on Days of Sale Strong evidence See economic evidence Adults Community, business/retail Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Maintaining Limits on Hours of Sale Sufficient evidence Economic review not conducted Adults Community, business/retail
Regulation of Alcohol Outlet Density Sufficient evidence Economic review not conducted Adults Community, business/retail
Mental Health Targeted school-based cognitive behavioral therapy programs to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms Strong evidence Economic review not conducted Children, adolescents School Mental Health
Universal school-based cognitive behavioral therapy programs to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms Strong evidence Economic review not conducted Children, adolescents School
Collaborative care for the management of depressive disorders Strong evidence Cost-effective Adults Clinical settings, healthcare systems, medical home
Nutrition Home-delivered and Congregate Meal Services for Older Adults Sufficient evidence Economic review not conducted Adults Community
Home
Nutrition
Nutrition and Physical Activity Community-based digital health and telephone interventions to increase healthy eating and physical activity Sufficient evidence Economic review not conducted Adults Community Nutrition

Physical activity

Obesity

Digital health and telephone interventions to increase healthy eating and physical activity among students at institutions of higher education Sufficient evidence Economic review not conducted Adolescents, young adults, adults School
Worksite digital health and telephone interventions to increase healthy eating and physical activity Sufficient evidence Economic review not conducted Adolescents, young adults, employees, employers/businesses Worksite
Physical Activity Digital health interventions for adults 55 years and older Sufficient evidence Economic review not conducted Adults 55 years and older Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community Physical Activity
Interventions including activity monitors for adults with overweight or obesity Sufficient evidence Economic review not conducted Adults Clinical settings, healthcare systems, worksite
Built environment approaches combining transportation system interventions with land use and environmental design Sufficient evidence Economic review not conducted All ages Community, urban
Preparedness and Response School dismissals to reduce transmission of pandemic influenza Sufficient evidence See economic evidence Children, adolescents, young adults School, community Preparedness and Response
Social Determinants of Health Tenant-based housing voucher programs Sufficient evidence Societal benefits exceed the cost All ages, populations with lower incomes Community, urban Social Determinants of Health
Vaccination Client or family incentive rewards Sufficient evidence See economic evidence Children, adults Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community Vaccination
Client reminder and recall systems Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, adolescents, adults, parents/caregivers Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community
Community-based interventions implemented in combination Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, adults, parents/caregivers Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community, urban
Health care system-based interventions implemented in combination Strong evidence See economic evidence All ages, parents/caregivers, populations of low socioeconomic status, range of racial and ethnic groups, populations with low to moderate baseline vaccination rates Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community, urban
Home visits to increase vaccination rates Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, adults, parents/caregivers, populations with lower incomes Home, urban
Immunization information systems Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, parents/caregivers Clinical settings, healthcare systems
Provider assessment and feedback Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, adolescents, adults, parents/caregivers Clinical settings, healthcare systems community
Provider reminders Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, adolescents, adults, parents/caregivers Clinical settings, healthcare systems
Reducing client out-of-pocket costs for vaccinations Strong evidence See economic evidence All ages Range of settings, clinical settings, healthcare systems
Standing orders Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, adolescents, adults, parents/caregiver Clinical settings, healthcare systems
Vaccination programs in schools and organized child care centers Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, adolescents, parents/caregivers, populations with lower incomes School
Vaccination programs in special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) settings Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, populations with lower incomes, parents/caregivers, women Clinical settings, healthcare systems, community
Vaccination requirements for child care, school, and college attendance Strong evidence See economic evidence Children, adolescents, young adults, parents/caregivers School, community

COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation. Visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus for the latest public health information.


1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Public Health Science Agenda for COVID-19, Building the Evidence Base for Ongoing COVID-19 Response. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-agenda-covid19.html. Updated August 2, 2021. Accessed December 17, 2021.

2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Catch Up on Well-Child Visits and Recommended Vaccinations. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/visit/vaccination-during-COVID-19.html. Accessed December 17, 2021.

3DeGroff A, Miller J, Sharma K, Sun J, Helsel W, Kammerer W, Rockwell T, Sheu A, Melillo S, Uhd J, Kenney K, Wong F, Saraiya M, Richardson LC. COVID-19 impact on screening test volume through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer early detection program, January-June 2020, in the United States. Prev Med. 2021 Oct;151:106559.

4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coping with Stress. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/cope-with-stress/index.html. Accessed on December 17, 2021.

5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity, Race/Ethnicity, and COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/obesity-and-covid-19.html. Accessed on December 17, 2021.