Are our lives the experiment? Covid-19 lessons during a chaotic natural experiment – a commentary

Abstract

Objective: In this paper, we urge health behavior and policy experts to engage in rigorous science and evaluation of the evolving natural experiment to stop or adapt to the pandemic of COVID-19. Methods: We conducted scientific literature, media library, and governmental web-site searches with key words COVID-19, policy, health behavior, and pandemic as a rapid review. Results: As of March 26, 2020, approximately one-third of the world’s population was under some COVID-related movement restriction. Moreover, 21 states in the United States initiated policies to stay-in-place, close businesses and schools, or create mechanisms for social distanc-ing, with more states likely to take up these actions. Conclusions: As individuals and whole com-munities ascend Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Scale, it is important to structure health behavior and policy evaluation and research to capture the lessons learned from this worldwide natural experiment of differing choices of support and restriction of individuals, groups, occupations, and whole countries. Whereas this may be the first pandemic of this magnitude and speed in the modern world, it likely will not be the last, making it imperative that we learn from and teach as many of these lessons as possible.