Personal protective effect of wearing surgical face masks in public spaces on self-reported respiratory symptoms in adults: pragmatic randomised superiority trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the personal protective effects of wearing versus not wearing surgical face masks in public spaces on self-reported respiratory symptoms over a 14 day period.

Design

Pragmatic randomised superiority trial.

Setting

Norway.

Participants

4647 adults aged ≥18 years: 2371 were assigned to the intervention arm and 2276 to the control arm.

Interventions

Participants in the intervention arm were assigned to wear a surgical face mask in public spaces (eg, shopping centres, streets, public transport) over a 14 day period (mask wearing at home or work was not mentioned). Participants in the control arm were assigned to not wear a surgical face mask in public places.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was self-reported respiratory

SUBMITTER: Solberg RB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11267995 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature