Public awareness initiatives have attracted growing attention globally, as a strategy to reduce low-value care and disinformation. However, knowledge gap remains in determining their effects. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize existing evidence to date on global effectiveness of public awareness initiatives.

Primary quantitative studies focusing on passive delivery of public awareness initiatives that targeted health professionals were included. Eligible studies were identified through search of MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Business Source Complete, Emerald Insight, and Google (initially on December 19, 2018, followed by updated search between July 8–10, 2019, and then between March 8–9, 2022) and the reference list of relevant studies. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using modified McMaster critical appraisal tool. A narrative synthesis of the study outcomes was conducted.

Twenty studies from United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and multicountry were included. Nineteen studies focused on Choosing Wisely initiative and one focused on National Institute of Clinical Excellence reminders. Most studies investigated one recommendation of a specialty. The findings showed conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of public awareness initiatives, suggesting passive delivery has limited success in reducing low-value care among health professionals.

This review highlights the complexity of change in an established practice pattern in health care. As passive delivery of public awareness initiatives has limited potential to initiate and sustain change, wide-ranging intervention components need to be integrated for a successful implementation.