Question What proportion of people in public places are wearing face masks without proper airtight seals, what factors are associated with face mask protection efficacy, and can they be improved?
Findings This cross-sectional study, including 6003 participants wearing face masks in public places, found that face mask airtightness was commonly suboptimal, mostly secondary to gaps at the upper face mask edge. Using simple and tolerable approach of sealing the upper face mask edge with an adhesive tape was associated with significant improvement of face mask airtightness.
Meaning These findings suggest that compromised protection due to suboptimal face mask airtightness was common, and use of adhesive tape to seal the upper edge was associated with easily and quickly improving the airtightness of existing masks.
Importance Face masks are recommended to prevent transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, there is scarce evidence on their protection efficacy and ways to improve it.
Objective To determine the proportion of improper face mask use, the factors associated with face mask protection efficacy, and ways to improve efficacy.
Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in China from July to August 2020 in 5 kinds of public places. Participants included convenience samples of individuals wearing face masks and able to taste the check solution.
Exposures Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, including sex, age, and education level; information on face mask model and the worn duration was recorded.
Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome as airtightness, assessed by detecting face-to-face mask gaps, movement of cotton fiber placed at the face mask edges, and using a qualitative fit test with a bitter solution spray. Masks were further assessed for whether sealing the upper face mask edge with an adhesive tape strip was associated with improved face mask airtightness.
Results Among 6003 face mask wearers enrolled, the mean (SD) age of participants was 31.1 (13.7) years, and 3047 participants (50.8%) were female. The first qualitative fit test found air leakage in 2754 participants (45.9%; 95% CI, 44.6%-47.1%), which was mostly attributable to gaps at the upper face mask edge. After sealing the upper face mask edge with an adhesive tape strip, 69.7% (95% CI, 68.0%-71.5%) of masks that had exhibited leakage became airtight in the second qualitative fit test, and the rate of airtightness reached 96.2% (95% CI, 95.4%-96.8%) in a third qualitative fit test after new surgical face masks with tape on the upper edge were provided to those who had not converted initially. The tape was well tolerated; overall, 6 participants (1.2%) reported a rash and 24 participants (5.8%) reported significant discomfort.
Conclusions and Relevance In this study of face mask fit among participants in China, although most people used face masks in public places, compromised protection due to suboptimal airtightness was common. The simple approach of sealing the upper edge of the face mask with an adhesive tape strip was associated with substantially improved its airtightness.
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