Identifying drivers and factors affecting behavioral risk factors of noncommunicable diseases: A scoping review

A large proportion of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) can be prevented by reducing unhealthy nutrition, inadequate physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The high burden of NCDs underlines the need for a greater understanding of the causes of these risk factors. This paper aims to identify factors affecting smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy nutrition, and inadequate physical activity in current and future times.

A scoping review was conducted in Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, in 2020 to identify factors affecting smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy nutrition, and inadequate physical activity. The review was guided by the five‑step Arksey and O’Malley model. A deductive qualitative content analysis was employed to identify the factors synthesized through descriptive and narrative synthesis. The search was conducted in English without date restrictions up to January 2020.

We identified 1437 studies through database search and other sources and finally included 72 studies in the review. The content analysis of the data led to the identification of 27 factors affecting smoking, alcohol consumption, nutrition, and physical activity. The factors categorized into social, technological, environmental, economic, political, and values factors.

Political and economic factors have a significant effect on all risk factors, and it is necessary to take comprehensive measures to improve these factors. Technological factors have a greater impact on healthy nutrition. Physical activity is more affected by environmental factors than other risk factors. However, smoking and alcohol consumption are more influenced by social factors and individual attitudes.