Increasing face-mask compliance among healthcare personnel during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

Abstract

Objective: Prior studies of universal masking have not measured facemask compliance. We performed a quality improvement study to monitor and improve facemask compliance among healthcare personnel (HCP) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Design: Mixed-methods study Setting: Tertiary care center in West Haven, Connecticut Patients: HCP including physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff Methods: Facemask compliance was measured through direct observations during a 4-week baseline period after universal masking was mandated. Frontline and management HCP completed semi-structured interviews from which a multimodal intervention was developed. Direct observations were repeated during a 14-week period following implementation of the multimodal intervention. Differences between units were evaluated with chi-squared testing using the Bonferroni correction. Facemask compliance between baseline and intervention periods was compared using time series regression. Results: Among 1,561 observations during the baseline period, median weekly facemask compliance was 82.2% (range, 80.8%-84.4%). Semi-structured interviews were performed with 16 HCP. Qualitative analysis informed the development of a multimodal intervention consisting of audit and passive feedback, active discussion, and increased communication from leadership. Among 2,651 observations during the intervention period, median weekly facemask compliance was 92.6% (range, 84.6%-97.9%). There was no difference in weekly facemask compliance between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 units. The multimodal intervention was associated with an increase in facemask compliance (β=0.023, p=0.002) Conclusions: Facemask compliance remained suboptimal among HCP despite a facility-wide mandate for universal masking. A multimodal intervention consisting of audit and passive feedback, active discussion, and increased communication from leadership was effective in increasing facemask compliance among HCP.

Occupational health hazards among healthcare providers and ancillary staff in Ghana: a scoping review

“… 52 53 Nonetheless, compliance with face mask wearing among healthcare providers remains suboptimal irrespective of the recent call for universal use of face mask. 54 …”

“…The combination of universal use of face mask and a comprehensive infection prevention programme has proven to reduce healthcare-associated cases of infectious diseases including COVID-19 52 53. Nonetheless, compliance with face mask wearing among healthcare providers remains suboptimal irrespective of the recent call for universal use of face mask 54…”

Sustainability of a well-established hand hygiene program during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

“…In addition, the sustainability and success of the CICO program allowed UNC Medical Center to replicate this model of shared responsibility for monitoring mask compliance in contrast to more labor-intensive methods. 11 In the midst of a global pandemic, sustainable hand hygiene programs remain foundational to the success of infection prevention.…”

Staff and Veteran Perspectives on Residential Treatment Programs’ Responses to COVID-19: A Qualitative Study Guided by the WHO’s After Action Review Framework

“…Through follow-up conversations with program leadership after conducting the small-group discussions reported in this work, we learned that the program manager had started to further emphasize the reasons and details for COVID-related precautions and changes during all-resident community meetings (Kim et al, 2022 ). Best practices for ensuring PPE availability and mask compliance as identified in other treatment settings (Thornton et al, 2022 ; Datta et al, 2022 ) may additionally inform future actions that programs can take. Third, the recommendation to ensure that professional cleaning is available can help keep communal areas adequately sanitized and decrease the spread of infection.…”