Guellich Aziz, Tella Emilie, Ariane Molka, Grodner Camille, Nguyen-Chi Hoai-Nam, Mahé Emmanuel
Dermatology Department, Hôpital Victor Dupouy Argenteuil, Argenteuil, France.
Primary Care Department, Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), School of Medicine, Créteil, France.
J Transp Health. 2021 Jun;21:101078. doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2021.101078. Epub 2021 May 3.
To limit the spread of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the World Health Organization recommends the use of face mask as a part of the pandemic control strategy. It has published also "best practices" in which it advises to avoid touching the mask while wearing it. This might be challenging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of mask-touching behavior in public transportation.
Observational study using data collected in real life. This survey was conducted in subways and local trains of the greater Paris region, France, between May 4th and 25th, 2020. Public Transportation users were covertly observed. Demographic characteristics, type of mask and the main activity were collected by the investigator. The duration of observation, the frequency of touching face mask, hair and the uncovered area of the face were also recorded. Frequency of mask-touching per hour was determined.
One hundred eighty two persons were observed. The median of estimated age [1st and 3rd interquartile] was 35 [30;45] years and 87 (48%) were women. One hundred forty three (79%) were wearing surgical mask. The median time of observation was 8 [4;12] minutes. During this period, 87 (48%) persons touched their mask 15 [7.5;30] times per hour of whom only two (8%) have used hydroalcoholic solution to disinfect their hands.
Mask touching is frequent and is rarely followed by hand disinfection. Actions regarding mask use should be taken to improve compliance.
为限制2019年新型冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的传播，世界卫生组织建议使用口罩作为大流行控制策略的一部分。该组织还发布了“最佳实践”，建议在佩戴口罩时避免触摸口罩。这可能具有挑战性。本研究的目的是调查公共交通中触摸口罩行为的频率。
使用实际收集的数据进行观察性研究。该调查于2020年5月4日至25日在法国大巴黎地区的地铁和市郊铁路上进行。对公共交通使用者进行了秘密观察。调查人员收集了人口统计学特征、口罩类型和主要活动。还记录了观察持续时间、触摸口罩、头发和面部未覆盖区域的频率。确定了每小时触摸口罩的频率。
观察了182人。估计年龄的中位数[第1和第3四分位数间距]为35[30；45]岁，87名（48%）为女性。143名（79%）佩戴外科口罩。观察的中位数时间为8[4；12]分钟。在此期间，87名（48%）人员每小时触摸口罩15[7.5；30]次，其中只有两名（8%）使用了含酒精的溶液对手进行消毒。
触摸口罩的情况很常见，且很少随后进行手部消毒。应采取有关口罩使用的措施以提高依从性。
