The effectiveness of education-based interventions on iodine knowledge, attitude, behaviour, and status: a systematic review protocol

Background Iodine deficiency remains a significant public health issue, further highlighted by the concern of its re-emergence in multiple countries. The health burden of iodine deficiency is high, especially in those who are vulnerable to the effects of iodine deficiency, such as pregnant women, infants, and children. Studies have shown that the public has low awareness and misconceptions regarding iodine. Increasing the understanding of the importance of iodine and its sources are crucial steps in controlling iodine deficiency in populations. This proposed systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of education-based interventions and identify effective strategies that are associated with improved iodine knowledge, attitude, behaviour, and/or status, which could assist in improving iodine intake and combatting iodine deficiency. Methods This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines. The electronic databases that will be used to search for relevant studies are PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and EMBASE, with no restriction on population and date. We will also explore Google Scholar to identify relevant studies. Two reviewers will perform the screening and data extraction, and disagreements will be solved by discussion or a third reviewer. We will synthesise the findings using meta-analyses where possible or otherwise via a narrative synthesis. Discussion The findings of the review will help to inform and guide the development and implementation of education programmes and evidence-based health interventions aimed at preventing iodine deficiency, with potential applicability to wider public health strategies. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42025065136.