Analysis of the Face Mask Use by Public Transport Passengers and Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ekaterina A. Shashina, Ekaterina A. Sannikova, Denis V. Shcherbakov, Yury V. Zhernov, Valentina V. Makarova, Tatiana S. Isiutina-Fedotkova, Nadezhda N. Zabroda, Elena V. Belova, Nina A. Ermakova, Tatiana M. Khodykina, Anton Yu. Skopin, Vitaly A. Sukhov, Anna A. Klimova, Tamara Nikolic Turnic (), Irina I. Yakushina, Olga A. Manerova, Vladimir A. Reshetnikov and Oleg V. Mitrokhin
Additional contact information
Ekaterina A. Shashina: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Ekaterina A. Sannikova: National Medical Research Center for Urology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Denis V. Shcherbakov: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Yury V. Zhernov: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Valentina V. Makarova: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Tatiana S. Isiutina-Fedotkova: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Nadezhda N. Zabroda: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Elena V. Belova: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Nina A. Ermakova: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Tatiana M. Khodykina: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Anton Yu. Skopin: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Vitaly A. Sukhov: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Anna A. Klimova: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Tamara Nikolic Turnic: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Irina I. Yakushina: N.A. Semashko Department of Public Health and Healthcare, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Olga A. Manerova: N.A. Semashko Department of Public Health and Healthcare, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Vladimir A. Reshetnikov: N.A. Semashko Department of Public Health and Healthcare, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Oleg V. Mitrokhin: Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: (1) Background: The use of face masks and gloves in public places directly shows the commitment of the population to the established regulations. Public transport is one of the most-at-risk places of contamination. The aim of the study was to analyze the face mask use by public transport passengers and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Public transport passengers and workers were surveyed. Periodic intermittent selective observation was used to gauge the level of adherence to the established regulations among public transport passengers. Factor analysis was used to identify factors determining the face-mask-wearing comfort. (3) Results: The majority of passengers (87.5%) and all transport workers (100%) used face masks and gloves. Most of the users wore only face masks. Only 41.6% of passengers and 74.7% of transport workers wore face masks correctly. Motivational attitudes at the implementation of preventive measures were determined: established regulations in the public place (55.8%) and the protection of one’s own health and the health of family members (44.2%). Only 22.5% of those wearing face masks believed that doing so will have any effect on the spread of an infectious disease, and 10.8% wore masks to maintain the health of people around themselves. A low level of social responsibility was demonstrated. For 53.4% of workers, face mask wearing was uncomfortable. The majority of workers had adverse reactions to mask wearing: feeling short of breath (52.8%), hyperemia of face skin (33.8%), and facial hyperhidrosis (67.4%). (4) Conclusions: The comfort of wearing a mask is determined by adverse reactions occurrence, the properties of the mask, working conditions, and the duration of wearing the face mask. It is necessary to develop recommendations to reduce wearing discomfort. These recommendations, along with methods of raising the social responsibility of the population, can contribute to a greater commitment of the population to non-specific prevention measures.

Keywords: face mask; social responsibility; transport workers; passengers; motivational attitudes; adverse reactions to mask wearing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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