NPI are a field in which many amalgamations occur between scientific knowledge and opinion, due to their objective—human health—and their operational mode, which involves immaterial protocols. However, it is essential to learn to distinguish science from research amidst the multiplication of tools and information channels (Klein, 2020), particularly on the subject of NPI. The same communication channels transmit both scientific knowledge and beliefs, opinions, comments... Information of different statuses becomes intertwined. Knowledge can turn into the belief of a particular community, and vice versa.

Research, on the other hand, pertains to questions for which we do not yet have answers. These well-defined questions still have no answer. A researcher works on the subject using various methods and strategies. Research fosters doubt. Scientific societies work to advance research within a specific territory and theme.

Given that NPI are universal health protocols centered on individuals and administered by humans, an international multidisciplinary scientific society needed to be created. This has been achieved since 2021. This society is called the Non-Pharmacological Intervention Society (NPIS).

The NPIS Model is part of the French strategy for global health research and innovation for 2023-2027. This strategy aims to address issues of equity and solidarity, increase commitment to disease prevention and health promotion, and better account for the interdependencies between climate change, ecosystem protection, and health (France Government, 2023). France has also established an Agency for Health Innovation and a €7.5 billion investment plan through 2030 (Agency for Health Innovation, 2021). The Agency aims to anticipate the impacts of innovations on the prevention and care system, foster cooperation between public and private actors, and identify research priorities (Agency for Health Innovation, 2021). This development relies on a central institution in France for research and health matters, INSERM (2024). The NPIS Model, which was created with the support of seed funding for participatory research from INSERM, facilitates the effective and rapid transfer of innovations in NPI from fundamental research to practice. The decade-long strategy for supportive care published in 2024 further amplified the need for a standardized evaluation model for NPI (France Government, 2024).

The term non-pharmacological intervention (NPI) was not chosen by the scientific society NPIS but has become necessary. It has been used by scientists since 1975. Various authorities and agencies have adopted it, including the World Health Organization since 2003, the French National Authority for Health since 2011, the National Solidarity Fund for Autonomy since 2014, the Ministry of Health since 2018, the High Council for Public Health since 2019, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control since 2020, the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs since 2022, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council since 2023, and Health Insurance since 2024. Many national and supranational scientific societies use the term NPI in their recommendations. These health solutions are often "squeezed" between health products and public health measures, despite efforts by professionals to raise awareness and recognition of them. They represent an underestimated area of intangible services situated between goods (e.g., medications, medical devices) and general public health recommendations (e.g., dietary rules, hygiene measures, environmental actions).

They can be lost in compilations of health solutions that mix health promotion actions with targeted programs or confuse methods for identifying a health problem with methods for resolving it. The challenge is to improve the traceability of practices for continuous enhancement of their quality, safety, implementation, and training. These practices can be easily shared from one country to another. The term NPI does not imply "anti-medication" or "alternative medicine" (parallel medicine). Instead, it draws from the rigor of the globally standardized drug validation process to establish good scientific and clinical practices. Over time, we believe that the abbreviation NPI will come to be more widely recognized than its full title, similar to WHO, IBM, SEAT, and many others.

Registers of non-pharmacological practices with imprecise criteria and boundaries.
Catalogs compile various health practices among which NPI may be submerged. Some target the general population, while others are more specific. The selection criteria are heterogeneous, and objectives and practical modalities vary widely. Three examples include two from the United States (EBCCP and Mindtools) and one from France (Capitalisation Santé).

The connection between mechanistic, interventional, and implementation studies forms the backbone of the epistemological positioning of the NPIS Model regarding the evaluation of NPI. This does not mean that an interventional study, for example, cannot explore biological mechanisms or psychosocial processes. Instead, this backbone provides coherence to the studies and structures the validation process of NPI for integration into a standardized practice framework.

Before evaluating an NPI, it is essential to describe it. Sometimes, health practices may involve a combination of diagnostic methods and treatments, as seen in osteopathy. An NPI is not intended to identify or diagnose a health problem; rather, it serves as a preventive or therapeutic solution to address it, sometimes in conjunction with other treatments. A common confusion lies in distinguishing between an NPI and an approach or technique. An approach is too vague and does not accurately describe the content of the NPI, while a technique is too specific, representing only one ingredient of an NPI. A prototypical study allows for the comprehensive description of all characteristics of an NPI, including its health objectives, target population, mechanisms of action, content, implementation context, and the prerequisites for the professional involved.

Accessible Protocols in Consultation

• Enhanced Quality and Safety: Strengthens the quality and safety of existing practices through formalization, harmonization, and securitization.
• Integration with Professional Software: Codified NPI can be integrated into healthcare management software.
• Digital Documentation: Access to documentation from computers, tablets, or smartphones for ease of use.
• Broad Validation: Extends validation to all relevant professionals in the region.
• Quick and Easy Access: Facilitates rapid access to information at critical decision-making moments for prevention and care.
• Simplicity in Tracking: Eases the follow-up and evolutionary process of best implementation practices (e.g., identifying barriers, professional leadership, availability of training and support).

Quality Control and Adherence to Protocols

• Traceability: Utilizes unique coded protocols for tracking.
• Strengthened Care Link: Enhances the relationship between care provision and patient support.
• Monitoring Relevant Indicators: Provides tools for tracking key performance indicators.
• Continuous Education Tool: Serves as a resource for ongoing professional development.
• Regular Updates: Incorporates regular updates based on user feedback.

Means of Valuation

• Response to Identified Multidisciplinary Issues: Addresses problems identified by healthcare teams in a specific territory.
• Extended Roles for Various Professionals: Expands the roles of many professionals, particularly non-physicians.
• Elimination of Ineffective Protocols: Phases out protocols that are ineffective, hazardous, or costly.
• Reduction in Meeting Time: Decreases the need for multiple meetings focused on intervention planning.
• Support for Innovation: Encourages professionals to experiment with new practices, boosting their confidence.
• Financial Valuation: Ensures appropriate financial and resource allocation for effective implementation.