Mask-wearing has dropped off for many people in the past few years, but 90% of respondents to a recent Women In Optometry Pop-up Poll said that they keep masks on hand in the office.
The respondents said they use masks themselves or for staff or patients who come in with symptoms of transmissible respiratory illnesses.
While 10% of the respondents said they “never” wear a mask, fully half said they do if they’re not feeling well. For many, it’s still a matter of some routine.
- 30% said they wear masks “occasionally in the office”
- 28% said they wear them “in crowds, airplanes, stores, etc.”
- 24% said they wear masks “often in the office”
- And 18% said that they or a family member have a health condition that warrants them wearing a mask regularly.
MASKS PLAY A ROLE
Generally, respondents feel that masks are helpful at preventing the transmission of illnesses in a health care setting. Forty-six percent said mask-wearing “is still very important” for that, and 26% said it is is moderately important. Twenty-four percent said it is “slightly important,” and four percent said that it is “not at all important.”
The clinic in Bellingham, Washington, where Riya Paranthan, OD, works enforced a strict mask policy until the start of 2025. “We are located in a medical complex next to a major hospital, so it made sense for us to follow the hospital’s guidelines,” she says. As COVID and RSV rates rose, those guidelines stayed in place. Even now, “although masks are not required, we do highly recommend it.”
It’s not uncommon for patients to have immune-compromised conditions. “We tend to be a little more protective around that group,” Dr. Paranthan says. “If a patient says they’re immune-compromised, we’ll mask up. As a community, we’re trying to protect ourselves and each other.”
MORE SCRUBS, LESS HAND-SHAKING
Some respondents also wrote answers about how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed hygiene practices for the long term. Two common answers are that more practitioners wear scrubs more and shake hands less often. Those responses included:
“I shake hands less, use additional sanitation, wear a mask if I am sick or around sick people and am less likely to work if I am sick. I always test myself for COVID if I am feeling sick. If the test is positive, I quarantine for a few days. I expect my staff to do the same to avoid exposing our more vulnerable patients.”
“I wear scrubs and more frequently wash hands. I wear a mask with most patients.”
“My office staff and doctors often wear masks still when seeing patients, especially if seeing pediatric or elderly patients. And about 10% of patients still wear masks.”
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