Knowledge and Self-Reported Practice of Face Mask Utilization among Outdoor Patients during the Covid-19 Pandemic (original) (raw)
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Medical research archives, 2023
Introduction: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, is a newly emergent disease and its epidemiology was unknown. In absence of effective treatment and vaccines, prevention of spread was the only option to save mankind. Social distancing, diseased isolation, and face mask use were initiated across the globe as prevention strategies. Of these, using face masks has stood as time tested strategy. But the introduction of face masks in Indian settings, without prior education on appropriate methods of use (wear, storage, disposal) has made their effectiveness questionable. Hence, the present study intended to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of face mask use among rural adults and to address the gaps if any. Objectives: 1. To determine the prevalence of face mask usage 2. To determine the prevalence of practicing appropriate method (WHO recommended) of face mask use. 3. To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of face mask use and factors influencing them. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice area of BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore. Pretested questionnaire was administered to 120 participants through the face-to-face interview. There were 8,5 and 11 questions used to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of face mask use respectively. Results: The face mask acceptance rate was 98.6%. Only 1/3rd of the study population knew the appropriate method (WHO) of wearing a face mask. The majority of participants had good knowledge (76.6%) and positive attitude (74.9%) towards mask use, but poor practices (76.6%). Knowledge about face mask use was associated with age, education, and occupation. A positive attitude towards mask use was associated with the participants' education level. Whereas the practices related to face mask use was poor and was not associated with any of the factors mentioned above. Conclusion: The media (mass/social) has equipped people with good knowledge about face masks and the current pandemic has brought in a positive attitude. But people lack skills in appropriate mask use, storage, and disposal. Community activities directed towards Behavioural Change Communication are the need of the hour to ensure WHO-recommended practices for face mask use and disposal.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International
Background: Facemasks have become a mandatory to prevent the pandemic spread of COVID-19. It can be utilized as part of a broader strategy to reduce transmission and save lives. However, there are several basic conditions for using masks that the general population is unaware of. People should be highly aware of the proper handling, usage and disposal of the facemask to prevent the spread. Aim: The aim of the study is to analyze the general public's knowledge, attitude, and practice of correct face mask handling during a covid-19 epidemic, with the hope of providing the essential awareness to prevent future worsening crises. Methods: The survey was conducted among general population. A total of 130 participants participated in the knowledge, awareness and practice assessment survey and the questionnaire was distributed online using Google survey forms. The data were collected, tabulated in excel and statistically analyzed using SPSS IBM version 20.0. Descriptive analysis & Pears...
Cureus, 2020
Introduction Many countries including Pakistan are currently using face masks in their pandemic control plans. Being highly prevalent, the correct use of these masks is particularly important, as an incorrect use and disposal may actually increase the rate of transmission. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of healthcare workers (HCWs) in wearing a surgical face mask to limit the spread of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Materials and Methods This survey was conducted by interviewing HCWs using a questionnaire consisting of the basic demographic characteristics, and the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the use of surgical face mask to limit the new COVID-19 exposure. Each correct answer was scored 1 and each incorrect answer scored 0. The total number of questions was 16, and the final score was calculated and then labeled according to the percentage (out of 16) of correct responses as good (>80%), moderate (60-80%), and poor (<60%). Results A total of 392 participants with a mean age of 42.37 ± 13.34 years (341 males and 51 females) were included in the study. The overall final results were good in 138 (35.2%), moderate in 178 (45.4%), and poor in 76 (19.3%). Around 43.6% of participants knew about the correct method of wearing the masks, 68.9% knew that there are three layers, 53% stated that the middle layer act as a filter media barrier, and 75.5% knew the recommended maximum duration of wearing it. The majority (88.2%) of participants knew that a cloth face mask is not much effective, around 79.8% knew that used face mask cannot be re-used, and 44.8% knew about the yellowcoded bag for disposal.
Public Practice Towards Usage of Face Mask During Pandemic COVID-19 -A Cross Sectional Study
2021
Background: The pandemic caused by novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has become a new public health problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of Corona Virus Diseases (COVID 19) as a global public health emergency. At War foot many strategies are being tried to mitigate the disease. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the usage and disposal of mouth masks among general public during this pandemic COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A total of 516 participants from the Maharashtra (India) region completed a questionnaire-based survey on different face covering practice and disposal methods, during the pandemic COVID -19. The self administered questionnaire distributed. Random sampling method was used for the collection of data, and the distribution of responses was presented as percentages. Explanatory statistics were performed for all groups based on the percentage of correct responses. Results: A total of 516 participated in the survey, amo...
Public’s awareness on usage of facemask among general population in Chengalpattu district
International Journal of Social Rehabilitation
Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the novel disease, causing the on-going pandemic with flu-like symptoms. COVID-19 spreads primarily by contacting the virus either from a COVID-19-infected individual through coughing or sneezing or from COVID-19 contaminated surfaces. Use of face mask is considered as an effective and safe method to control the spread of the disease. Aim: This study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of usage among general population in Chengalpattu district. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among the Chengalpattu population to access the awareness regarding the usage of face mask during the pandemic. A self-administered questionnaire which consists of demographic data, knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the usage of face mask was prepared and distributed to the general population of Chengalpattu district. Results: Majority of population, 261 (96%), knew that wearing face mask prevents COVID-1...
F1000Research
Background: Facemasks are considered a cheap, effective, and safe method to control the spread of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). This study assessed the knowledge and practice of face mask use amongst the Nepalese public during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-developed, validated questionnaire (Cronbach alpha 0.556) was conducted in Dharan, Nepal during May 2020. Pharmacists from ten pharmacies throughout Dharan city administered and recorded responses from a selected sample, stratified across age, gender, education, and place of residence. Completed questionnaires were entered in SPSS, coded, and normality tested using a one-sample K-S test. Demographic characteristics were described using descriptive statistics. Median scores among subgroups were compared using inferential statistics. Descriptive analyses were performed for demographic parameters and inferential statistics for outcome variables, calculating median scores among subgrou...
Sustainability
At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the estimated daily use of face masks was at its highest, thereby creating huge public health and environmental challenges associated with the indiscriminate disposal of used ones. The present study assessed Abu Dhabi University students’ handling and disposal of single-use face masks during the pandemic. A cross-sectional study using an online survey questionnaire was used to gather data from 255 students from the target group. Face mask type was found to be significantly influenced by both the student’s gender and age, while the participant’s habit of hand washing after handling a used face mask was found to be significantly influenced by the student’s age. The student’s educational level significantly influenced group decisions regarding the most appropriate face mask to use, as well as environmental and health consequences awareness of indiscriminate face mask disposal. While the students are adequately aware of COVID-19’s impact and had goo...
International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health
Background: The WHO has recommended face mask use during COVID-19 pandemic for all people in all public settings and situations compromising the social distancing. So, face mask use, hand hygiene and social distancing are the preventive measures followed by many countries against this pandemic. But still inappropriate use of masks might lead to failure of these preventive measures against COVID. So, this study was done to determine the prevalence and determinants associated with knowledge and practices of the appropriate use of face masks among patients attending primary health care services in a slum of Chennai.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among patients attending urban primary health centre for non-respiratory complaints. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information from the participants. For assessment of practice, direct observation on the use of a face mask was done. Data were entered in Excel and analysed using SPSS 23.0 software. The ...
Journal of medical science and clinical research, 2021
Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has accursed the world since December 2019 when it was first diagnosed in Wuhan, China. As it quickly spread to almost all the corners of the world, WHO later declared it as a global pandemic. Effective non pharmaceutical measures to control it, depends upon the knowledge and practice of basic principles of hygiene and use of facemasks. Hence educating public about it has an immense role in controlling this contagious disease. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Chittagong during June 2020 to December 2020 with a study population of 1489 participants. Adults with good physical and mental condition, and those who agreed to participate were included while unwilling and sick people were excluded from the study. Results: Out of 1489 participants, the mean age was 28.81±8.64 years with range from 12 to 70 years. More than half (51%) of the participants were female and about 773(51.9%) participants had completed above X education level. Knowledge about the disease, its causative agent, main symptoms, ultimate fate and its mode of transmission was considerably high. The majority of the participants were accustomed of the preventive measure such as social distancing, isolation of the patients, home quarantine and avoidance of large gatherings. Knowledge directly affected both attitude and practices as the survey revealed that the majority (88.72%) of the participants achieved a good knowledge-attitude score and 78.44% achieved a good knowledge-practice score. Overall achieved knowledge score regarding the importance of the use of face masks translated on attitude and practices. Conclusion: Our findings insinuated that Bangladeshi population substantiated a decent knowledge about COVID-19 and knowledge about the importance of facemasks was above par and that too translated on attitude and practices. Hence widespread targeted health education programme that incorporates considerations of KAP modifying factors is further needed to prevent subsequent waves of the infection.
BMC Public Health
Background: The proper use of face mask comprises the correct practice and wearing technique and is important in preventing the spread of respiratory infections. Previous studies have addressed only the aspect of practice and failed to provide a detailed account of face mask usage amongst community-based populations. This study examined the practice and technique of using face mask amongst adults. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. A quota sample of 1500 adults was recruited in Hong Kong during a nonepidemic state between January and February 2017. The participants' practice of using face mask in five given situations was assessed using a questionnaire. Their technique in using face mask, including 12 steps, was assessed using an observation checklist. Statistical tests were used to compare the differences in practice and technique amongst adults of different gender and age groups. Results: Findings revealed that the performance of the participants in both categories was unsatisfactory. In terms of practice, less than one-fifth of the participants reported that they always wore face mask when taking care of family members with fever (14.7%) or respiratory infections (19.5%). Male adults and those aged 55-64 reported low frequency in using face mask during required situations. In terms of technique, none of the participants performed all the required steps in using face mask correctly. More than 90% of the participants did not perform hand hygiene before putting on (91.5%), taking off (97.3%), or after disposing (91.5%) face mask. Adults aged 55 and above performed poorer than adults in the younger age groups. Conclusion: Compared with previous findings obtained during an epidemic, the performance of the participants during a nonepidemic state was less satisfactory. The possibility of developing fatigue after exposure to repeated epidemics was discussed. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the use of face mask in a community and reveals the underperformed areas. Effort is required to enhance the proper practice of using face mask, convey the message that hand hygiene is an essential step in wearing and taking off a face mask and increase the public's general concern in the value of using face mask.