• Łukasz Matusiak, Marta Szepietowska, Piotr Krajewski, Rafał Białynicki-Birula, and Jacek Szepietowski.
• Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
• Adv Clin Exp Med. 2020 Oct 1; 29 (10): 1201-1203.

BackgroundThe use of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic became ubiquitous. Such masks are believed to be effective in prevention of respiratory viral transmission.ObjectivesThe study was undertaken to assess the use of face masks among students during the COVID-19 pandemic, with focus on similarities and differences between medical and non-medical students.Material And MethodsThe study was based on the specially designed survey. The questionnaire, after consultation with 10 students, was created using Google Forms and posted on numerous Facebook groups for students in Poland. The recall period of the questionnaire was the previous 7 days. In 48 h, 2,315 answers were obtained. Fifty-nine questionnaires were excluded due to data incompleteness and failure to fulfil inclusion criteria. Therefore, 2,256 surveys (97.5%) were considered for final analysis.ResultsMedical students showed significantly different attitudes and practices concerning the use of face masks. Medical students used face masks more commonly and for longer periods of time. Moreover, they wore single-use masks more often and less frequently re-used them. Also, multiple use of single-use face masks and masks decontamination procedures were less common among medical students.ConclusionsWe suggest that medical students might be of help in educational campaigns for general public on proper use of face protection.

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