tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
WMJ. 2012 Feb;111(1):13-6.
Face mask use by patients in primary care.
Tischendorf JS, Temte JL.
Source
Department of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1100 Delaplaine Court, Madison, WI 53715, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT:
Face masks are recommended for patients with respiratory symptoms to reduce influenza transmission. Little knowledge exists regarding actual utilization and acceptance of face masks in primary care.
OBJECTIVE:
Compare distribution of face masks to clinic and community trends in respiratory infection (RI) and influenza-like illness (ILI); estimate the annual need for face masks in primary care.
DESIGN:
Retrospective observational study of practice data from a 31-week period starting in October 2009.
SETTING:
Family practice clinic in Madison, Wis.
PATIENTS:
Patients with fever, cough, or other respiratory symptoms as evaluated by reception staff.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Age, sex, and weekly counts of individuals receiving a face mask, as well as counts of RI and ILI patients based on ICD-9 coding from 27 statewide clinics.
RESULTS:
Face mask counts were 80% of RI counts for the clinic and reflected the demographics of the clinic population. Distribution was correlated to prevalence of RI (R = 0.783, P < 0.001) and ILI (R = 0.632, P < 0.001). Annually, 8% of clinic visits were for RI.
CONCLUSIONS:
The high percentage of face mask use among RI patients reflects the feasibility of this intervention to help control influenza transmission in a primary care setting. Using the present data, clinics can estimate the annual need for face masks.
PMID:
22533210
[PubMed - in process]
Free full text
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22533210
Face mask use by patients in primary care.
Tischendorf JS, Temte JL.
Source
Department of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1100 Delaplaine Court, Madison, WI 53715, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT:
Face masks are recommended for patients with respiratory symptoms to reduce influenza transmission. Little knowledge exists regarding actual utilization and acceptance of face masks in primary care.
OBJECTIVE:
Compare distribution of face masks to clinic and community trends in respiratory infection (RI) and influenza-like illness (ILI); estimate the annual need for face masks in primary care.
DESIGN:
Retrospective observational study of practice data from a 31-week period starting in October 2009.
SETTING:
Family practice clinic in Madison, Wis.
PATIENTS:
Patients with fever, cough, or other respiratory symptoms as evaluated by reception staff.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Age, sex, and weekly counts of individuals receiving a face mask, as well as counts of RI and ILI patients based on ICD-9 coding from 27 statewide clinics.
RESULTS:
Face mask counts were 80% of RI counts for the clinic and reflected the demographics of the clinic population. Distribution was correlated to prevalence of RI (R = 0.783, P < 0.001) and ILI (R = 0.632, P < 0.001). Annually, 8% of clinic visits were for RI.
CONCLUSIONS:
The high percentage of face mask use among RI patients reflects the feasibility of this intervention to help control influenza transmission in a primary care setting. Using the present data, clinics can estimate the annual need for face masks.
PMID:
22533210
[PubMed - in process]
Free full text
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22533210