People wearing face coverings take extra care about their hand hygiene, study finds
FACE masks can boost hand-washing because they increase the perception of risk, despite fears that the compulsory measures would make the public complacent, a study has found.
The findings, published in the journal BMJ Analysis, are based on an examination of the scientific evidence available on mask-wearing, in the context of respiratory virus infections. The researchers say evidence is growing that face coverings can reduce the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19.
However, they acknowledge the studies they examined are yet to be peer-reviewed and, thus, should be treated with caution. But the scientists add that, based on the limited evidence, face coverings do not make people care less about other key measures that the public has been asked to follow.
Early in the pandemic, the World Health Organisation warned that covering the face could “create a false sense of security that can lead to neglecting other essential measures such as hand hygiene practices”, a type of behaviour that is based on a theory known as “risk compensation”. But in June, they changed the guidance, advising people to wear masks in public areas, “in light of evolving evidence”.
Last week in England, wearing face coverings in indoor spaces became mandatory.
The paper’s co-author, Dr James Rubin, from the department of psychological medicine at King’s College London, said: “Many health bodies are coming to the conclusion that wearing a face covering might help reduce the spread and the limited evidence suggests their use doesn’t have a negative effect on hand hygiene.”
Risk compensation suggests that people adjust their behaviour according to the perceived level of risk, acting more cautiously where they sense greater risk and becoming less careful if they feel more protected. Experts have wondered whether wearing a mask would make people less cautious about other risk-reducing measures.
A team of researchers at the University of Cambridge’s behaviour and health research unit, looked at 22 systematic reviews, assessing the effect of wearing a mask on transmission of respiratory virus infections.
According to the scientists, the results from six studies show wearing masks “does not reduce the frequency of hand-washing”, with two studies showing “self-reported rates of handwashing were higher in the groups wearing masks”. However, the researchers acknowledged these studies were not designed to assess risk compensation or look at social distancing.
Dr Nilu Ahmed, a lecturer in social sciences at the University of Bristol, welcomed the findings as encouraging as they indicate “people don’t compensate for wearing masks by reducing hand-washing and, in fact, hand-washing may increase as a result”.