None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Face masks and other personal protective equipment are interventions available to reduce the transmission of influenza and other respiratory infections. Most available studies have focused on mask use by well subjects for prevention of infection. This study will study use of masks by sick patients as source infection control. This study will determine whether mask use by people with influenza-like-illness (ILI) while at home protects other family members from a range of respiratory infection outcomes.
Interventions
The index case will be randomised into one of two arms:
1. Intervention arm – the index case will wear a surgical mask at home
2. Control arm – the index case will not receive any intervention.
Participants from group one will be asked to wear a mask whenever they are in the same room as a family member or visitor to the household. They will be informed that they can remove their masks during meal times and while asleep. They will be shown how to wear the mask and informed to wash their hands
The index case will be randomised into one of two arms: 1. Intervention arm – the index case will wear a surgical mask at home 2. Control arm – the index case will not receive any intervention. Participants from group one will be asked to wear a mask whenever they are in the same room as a family member or visitor to the household. They will be informed that they can remove their masks during meal times and while asleep. They will be shown how to wear the mask and informed to wash their hands when donning and removing the mask. Participants will be provided with three masks per day for 7 days (21 masks in total). They will be informed that they can cease wearing a mask once their symptoms resolve. Mask use by other family members is not required. Participants will be asked to complete a diary card for seven 7 which will record their mask use, their contact with family members etc. Exit interviews will be conducted with all participants to examine standard practices around mask use, issues affecting compliance and attitudes towards mask/respirator use.
Sponsors
University of New South Wales
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
The index case must: 1. Be the only person in the household to currently have an influenza-like-illness and there should be no history of influenza-like-illness amongst family members in the last 14 days. 2. Live with at least two other people at home 3. Be a permanent resident in Beijing 4. Be able to provide informed consent
Exclusion criteria
1. Inability or refusal to consent 2. Symptom onset >24 hours prior to recruitment 3. Admission to hospital 4. Residing in household with less than two people 5. Other family members who have been influenza-like-illness in the two weeks prior to or simultaneous to the index patient.
Outcome results
None listed