Veronica Kim
Respiratory Therapy Student
Loma Linda University, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Kevin Lumowa, RRT
Respiratory Therapist
Loma Linda University, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Noha Daher, Dr.PH
Professor
Loma Linda University, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
David Lopez, Ed.D, RRT
Associate Professor
Loma Linda University, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Laren Tan, MD, FCCP
Associate Professor
Loma Linda University, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Abdullah Alismail, PhD, RRT, , FCCP
Assistant Professor
Loma Linda University, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Title: Mask Wearing Behavior During Flu Season Among Healthcare Professionals: Did COVID-19 Change Us?
Introduction:
COVID-19 has necessitated the use of surgical masks worldwide. As a result, it had an unexpected effect on lowering severe influenza cases as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate healthcare workers’ perception on surgical masks wearing during flu seasons post COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board committee. An anonymous survey was sent to department directors to distribute among their staff members. The survey consisted of multiple questions regarding the clinician’s previous, current, and expected future mask practice behaviors within the hospital setting. The survey was sent out to Respiratory Therapists (RT), Registered Nurses (RN), and Medical Residents (MR) in a selected academic healthcare institution in Southern California, United States.
Results:
A total of 122 healthcare professionals responded (RT, n=65; RN, n=17; MR, n=40). The mean age of the respondents was 36.4 ±10.3 years with 53(43.4%) males and 69 (56.6%) females. The majority of the respondents (n=101, 82.8%) agreed that wearing a surgical mask can reduce infection and limit the transmission of infectious diseases. When asked regarding their previous mask-wearing behaviors in the hospital during past flu seasons, prior to COVID-19, they reported the following reasons for not wearing a surgical mask: discomfort (14.5%), not being part of protocol (38.3%), no one else wears it in the workplace (13.6%), not readily available (7.7%), and perceived exposure or infection risk being minimal (21.7%). Using Chi-Square analysis, 82/122 (67.2%) reported that the pandemic experience has significantly influenced their health risk prevention choices to the extent that, after COVID-19 when hospital mask-wearing mandates are lifted, 42/82 (51.2%) indicated that they will continue wearing a surgical mask at all times, p=0.03. In addition, 60/82 (73.2%) reported that they will wear a surgical mask at all times during future flu seasons post COVID-19, p< 0.01.
Conclusions:
In this preliminary study, we found that many healthcare workers reevaluated their health precaution perceptions due to their experience during the COVID-19. This leads to more consideration for practicing mask-wearing behavior in the hospital, especially during flu season.