Face mask uptake in the absence of mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study with Swiss residents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the COVID-19 pandemic, Switzerland introduced broad nationwide face mask mandates only by October 2020, later than other Western European countries. This study aims to assess the underlying values and considerations of individuals to wear face masks in the absence of face mask mandates in the COVID-19 pandemic in German-speaking Switzerland.

Methods

As part of the "Solidarity in times of a pandemic" (SolPan) research commons, we interviewed 31 participants living in the German-speaking part of Switzerland in April 2020 and 25 of them again in October 2020. Qualitative inductive thematic analysis was applied for data analysis and interpretation. Public health ethics principles guided the interpretation and organization of findings.

Results

Five themes wer

SUBMITTER: Zimmermann BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8620306 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature