Use of quasi-experimental studies to evaluate causal effects of public health interventions in Portugal: a scoping review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Quasi-experimental designs are a valid option to assess causal effects of public health interventions when randomized studies are unfeasible, but not widely used in Portugal. We identified and reviewed characteristics of studies employing quasi-experimental designs to evaluate causal effects of public health interventions in Portugal.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and CINHAL were searched, alongside grey literature, reference mining and contact of authors of eligible studies. We extracted information on the intervention assessed, study design, outcomes assessed, statistical analysis and reporting guidelines.

Results

We identified 1143 studies; 25 were eligible. Studies assessed interventions in various areas, mainly healthcare services (28.0%), dru

SUBMITTER: Leite A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12642283 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature