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Facemask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia: a participatory project

Facemask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia: a participatory project
Facemask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia: a participatory project
Background Facemasks help prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and are particularly important for people with chronic respiratory disease such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). We studied the usage of facemasks and its consequences among people with PCD in an international context.

Methods We used data from COVID-PCD, an international observational cohort study which collects longitudinal data from people with PCD during the COVID-19 pandemic via weekly online questionnaires. An online questionnaire investigating use of facemasks was posted in October 2020. It asked about frequency of facemask usage in different public places, problems experienced with use of facemasks, affordability of masks, and beliefs regarding their effectiveness.

Results 282 participants (50%) completed the questionnaire. Participants came from 27 different countries; median age was 32 years (interquartile range 17-48), and 63% were female. Almost all wore a facemask whenever they left their house. In addition, many avoided public places altogether. For example, 159 (57%) did not use public transport at all, 108 (39%) always wore a facemask in public transport, 4 (1%) sometimes, and 7 (3%) never. 81% agreed with the statement that facemasks protect the person who wears the mask, and 91% agreed that facemasks protect others. One third reported that it was uncomfortable to wear a mask because of their runny nose, 31% because of cough, and 22% because of difficulty breathing. Participants less often wore facemasks in public when there was no national requirement. Only two persons had a personal exemption from wearing a facemask prescribed by a physician.

Conclusions This international study found that people with PCD carefully shield themselves, and most wear facemasks everywhere in public. People who did not wear facemasks in public came from countries without a national facemask requirement. National policies mandating facemask use in public are important for universal use to protect high-risk populations from SARS-CoV-2 infections
1661-8556
Pedersen, Eva S.L.
bc740384-c2fa-45b6-8d84-701a373d58da
Collaud, Eugénie N.R.
2c017115-0592-4005-b46e-dc6d4a1504ef
Mozun, Rebeca
5c3aa870-7202-418b-af56-70b2e2cd5384
Dexter, Katie
705fecdc-98d4-41d4-925b-e38254833983
Kruljac, Catherine
5945baa8-8f18-4903-b524-8276888f013d
Silberschmidt, Hansruedi
3938394f-2b4c-4223-9e48-66d436260760
Lucas, Jane
5cb3546c-87b2-4e59-af48-402076e25313
Goutaki, Myrofora
60fbeefc-dbb1-429c-b81a-3c35d368db64
Kuehni, Claudia E.
ac67c925-ee32-429d-a3b5-c244daa314b4
Pedersen, Eva S.L.
bc740384-c2fa-45b6-8d84-701a373d58da
Collaud, Eugénie N.R.
2c017115-0592-4005-b46e-dc6d4a1504ef
Mozun, Rebeca
5c3aa870-7202-418b-af56-70b2e2cd5384
Dexter, Katie
705fecdc-98d4-41d4-925b-e38254833983
Kruljac, Catherine
5945baa8-8f18-4903-b524-8276888f013d
Silberschmidt, Hansruedi
3938394f-2b4c-4223-9e48-66d436260760
Lucas, Jane
5cb3546c-87b2-4e59-af48-402076e25313
Goutaki, Myrofora
60fbeefc-dbb1-429c-b81a-3c35d368db64
Kuehni, Claudia E.
ac67c925-ee32-429d-a3b5-c244daa314b4

Pedersen, Eva S.L., Collaud, Eugénie N.R., Mozun, Rebeca, Dexter, Katie, Kruljac, Catherine, Silberschmidt, Hansruedi, Lucas, Jane, Goutaki, Myrofora and Kuehni, Claudia E. (2021) Facemask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia: a participatory project. International Journal of Public Health. (doi:10.1101/2021.04.13.21255393).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background Facemasks help prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and are particularly important for people with chronic respiratory disease such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). We studied the usage of facemasks and its consequences among people with PCD in an international context.

Methods We used data from COVID-PCD, an international observational cohort study which collects longitudinal data from people with PCD during the COVID-19 pandemic via weekly online questionnaires. An online questionnaire investigating use of facemasks was posted in October 2020. It asked about frequency of facemask usage in different public places, problems experienced with use of facemasks, affordability of masks, and beliefs regarding their effectiveness.

Results 282 participants (50%) completed the questionnaire. Participants came from 27 different countries; median age was 32 years (interquartile range 17-48), and 63% were female. Almost all wore a facemask whenever they left their house. In addition, many avoided public places altogether. For example, 159 (57%) did not use public transport at all, 108 (39%) always wore a facemask in public transport, 4 (1%) sometimes, and 7 (3%) never. 81% agreed with the statement that facemasks protect the person who wears the mask, and 91% agreed that facemasks protect others. One third reported that it was uncomfortable to wear a mask because of their runny nose, 31% because of cough, and 22% because of difficulty breathing. Participants less often wore facemasks in public when there was no national requirement. Only two persons had a personal exemption from wearing a facemask prescribed by a physician.

Conclusions This international study found that people with PCD carefully shield themselves, and most wear facemasks everywhere in public. People who did not wear facemasks in public came from countries without a national facemask requirement. National policies mandating facemask use in public are important for universal use to protect high-risk populations from SARS-CoV-2 infections

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Accepted/In Press date: 12 November 2021
Published date: 15 December 2021

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 452374
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/452374
ISSN: 1661-8556
PURE UUID: e2b78bbe-6150-41d0-aa07-0540d1fb9bec
ORCID for Jane Lucas: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8701-9975

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Date deposited: 09 Dec 2021 17:33
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:55

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Contributors

Author: Eva S.L. Pedersen
Author: Eugénie N.R. Collaud
Author: Rebeca Mozun
Author: Katie Dexter
Author: Catherine Kruljac
Author: Hansruedi Silberschmidt
Author: Jane Lucas ORCID iD
Author: Myrofora Goutaki
Author: Claudia E. Kuehni

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