Increasing face-mask compliance among HCWs during COVID-19

Editor's Note

In this study, researchers from Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, find that face-mask compliance remained suboptimal among healthcare workers (HCWs) despite a facility-wide mandate for universal masking during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of 1,561 observations during a 4-week baseline period after universal masking was mandated, median weekly face-mask compliance was 82.2% (range, 80.8%-84.4%).

Among 2,651 observations during an intervention period consisting of audit and passive feedback, active discussion, and increased communication from leadership, median weekly face-mask compliance was 92.6% (range, 84.6%-97.9%).

There was no difference in face-mask compliance between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 units.

A multimodal intervention from leadership was effective in increasing face-mask compliance among HCWs during COVID-19, the researchers say.