Abstract
[Objective] During the COVID-19 global pandemic, universal masking has been widely recognized as an important way to prevent the infection from spreading in both clinical and non- clinical settings. In addition to the quantity (wearing a mask at all times), the quality (wearing a mask as appropriate) should matter. In this study, we compared the quality of the universal masking among healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-medical personnel after the first wave of COVID-19.
[Methods] In June 2020, we collected data on wearing mask among HCWs at Okayama University Hospital and that of non-medical personnel outside the hospital. Improper masking was defined as wearing a mask but having the nose or mouth uncovered. Data were stratified by place (in wards, outside wards, and outside the hospital) and subject (HCWs and non-medical personnel) for comparison.
[Results] In total, we collected data on 1,359 subjects in- and 2,620 outside-hospital. The appropriate mask wearing rate among HCWs (86.0%) was significantly lower than that of non- medical personnel observed in-hospital (92.6%) and outside the hospital (91.4%). [Conclusions] Quality, as well as quantity, of masking should be highlighted more among HCWs to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
