Edited and reviewed by: Gianluca Castelnuovo, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Italy
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Evidence-based practice (EBP) seeks to integrate the strongest empirical findings with practitioners' professional judgment while fully respecting the characteristics and preferences of service recipients. Since Sackett et al. first articulated the concept approximately three decades ago (
The present cross-journal Research Topic (2025), organized with support from the Campbell China Network, assembles five high-quality syntheses that address prevention, treatment, and health promotion across the life course. A concise overview of the contributions is included.
In
Early intervention across multiple domains. The collected studies converge on the value of timely, non-pharmaceutical action, whether via classroom skill-building, digital coaching, culturally grounded mind-body practice, or structured physical activity, in shaping trajectories of wellbeing. This perspective aligns with WHO guidance on adolescent mental-health promotion (
Cultural adaptation and contextual relevance. The Five-Element Music plus Eight-Section Brocade trial demonstrates that interventions rooted in indigenous traditions can satisfy strict methodological requirements. At the same time, the DBT bibliometric review reminds us that global applicability cannot be assumed without local evidence.
Methodological progress and remaining challenges. Most reviews comply with PRISMA and register their protocols prospectively, yet gaps persist in the long-term follow-up and reporting of implementation fidelity. Addressing these issues will sharpen future meta-analytic conclusions and enhance knowledge translation.
Interdisciplinary collaboration. The evidence base spans public health, psychology, kinesiology, music therapy, and information technology. Such breadth mirrors the multifaceted nature of real-world problems and calls for integrative intervention packages to be evaluated through collaborative research designs.
Multi-component trials should examine additive or synergistic effects, as demonstrated in the Five-Element Music plus Eight-Section Brocade study.
Equity-oriented research capacity must be strengthened, especially in low- and middle-income regions, to ensure that global evidence truly represents diverse populations.
Precision implementation science is needed to match interventions to individual and contextual characteristics, thereby realizing the full intent of EBP.
Mechanistic and longitudinal outcomes (e.g., biological markers and digital engagement metrics) should complement symptom measures to clarify how and for whom these interventions work.
This Research Topic underscores that non-pharmaceutical interventions, from school-based cognitive training to traditional mind-body practices, rest on a solid and growing empirical foundation. By conscientiously integrating these high-quality syntheses into routine practice, professionals can deliver person-centered, culturally sensitive, and scientifically informed services that foster social, health, and psychological wellbeing across populations.
ZB: Writing – original draft. FF: Writing – review & editing. IC: Writing – review & editing.
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