Incorrect Use of Face Masks during the Current COVID-19 Pandemic among the General Public in Japan

Masaki Machida, Itaru Nakamura, Reiko Saito, Tomoki Nakaya, Tomoya Hanibuchi, Tomoko Takamiya, Yuko Odagiri, Noritoshi Fukushima, Hiroyuki Kikuchi, Shiho Amagasa, Takako Kojima, Hidehiro Watanabe and Shigeru Inoue
Additional contact information
Masaki Machida: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
Itaru Nakamura: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Reiko Saito: Division of International Health (Public Health), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
Tomoki Nakaya: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi 980-0845, Japan
Tomoya Hanibuchi: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi 980-0845, Japan
Tomoko Takamiya: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
Yuko Odagiri: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
Noritoshi Fukushima: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
Hiroyuki Kikuchi: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
Shiho Amagasa: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
Takako Kojima: Department of International Medical Communications, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Hidehiro Watanabe: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Shigeru Inoue: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-11

Abstract: Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of face masks by healthy individuals for prevention has been attracting public attention. However, efficacy depends on proper usage. We set out to determine the prevalence of wearing masks to prevent COVID-19 and compliance with appropriate measures for the correct use of face masks among the general public in Japan where wearing medical masks is a “cultural” normality. This cross-sectional study was based on an internet-based survey completed by 2141 people (50.8% men, aged 20–79 years) who were selected among registrants of an Internet research company between 1 April and 6 April 2020. Participants were asked to indicate how often they wore masks for prevention and to what extent they practiced appropriate measures suggested by the World Health Organization. The prevalence of wearing masks was 80.9% and compliance rates with appropriate measures ranged from 38.3% to 83.5%. Only 23.1% complied with all recommendations. Compliance rates were overall low in men and persons with low household incomes. Our results, hence show that many citizens implement inaccurate measures when using face masks. Therefore, providing guidance on correct usage is essential when encouraging the use of face masks to prevent COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; face mask; protective measures; epidemiology; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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