SynthesisAnnals of global health2020
How Frequently Do We Touch Facial T-Zone: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in Annals of global health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The influence of gender and ethnicity on facemasks and respiratory protective equipment fit: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ global health · 2021Pooled it
- Review
- Pets in the household increase ocular surface microbiome exchanges between dog and owner.One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2025Article
- Number of Facial Hair Corresponds to Frequency of Spontaneous Face-Touch in Humans.Advanced biology · 2025Article
- Correction.Current topics in behavioral neurosciences · 2025Article
- Refraining from spontaneous face touch is linked to personality traits, reduced memory performance and EEG changes.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Association Between Nasal Colonization ofAllergy, asthma & immunology research · 2023Article
- Considerations of COVID-19 in Ophthalmology.Microorganisms · 2023Review
- Impact of a Serious Game (#RedPingüiNO) to Reduce Facial Self-Touches and Prevent Exposure to Pathogens Transmitted via Hands: Quasi-Experimental Intervention.JMIR serious games · 2023Article
- Non-pharmaceutical interventions and risk of COVID-19 infection: survey of U.K. public from November 2020 - May 2021.BMC public health · 2023Observational
- Why not to pick your nose: Association between nose picking and SARS-CoV-2 incidence, a cohort study in hospital health care workers.PloS one · 2023Article
- Personal and Household Hygiene Measures for Preventing Upper Respiratory Tract Infections among Children: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Parental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Hand-to-Face Contact of Preschoolers during Indoor Activities in Childcare Facilities in the Republic of Korea.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Association of COVID-19 Infection With Wearing Glasses in a High-Prevalence Area in Denmark and Sweden.JAMA ophthalmology · 2022Article
- Interventions to prevent surface transmission of an infectious virus based on real human touch behavior: a case study of the norovirus.International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases · 2022Article
- Exploring spatial averaging of contamination in fomite microbial transfer models and implications for dose.Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology · 2022Article
- Effectiveness of a Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention of "STOP touching your face" During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Randomized Controlled Trial.Mindfulness · 2022Article
- Face-touching Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Self-inoculation and transmission potentials.Journal of dental hygiene : JDH · 2021Article
- Current systematic reviews and meta-analyses of COVID-19.World journal of virology · 2021Article
- Spontaneous face- and eye-touching: Infection risk versus potential microbiome gain.The ocular surface · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Researchers across the world are emphasising the importance of hand-washing and limited touching of face to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, access to safe water and hygiene is inadequate in many places around the globe; hence T-zone touching restriction is considered more worthwhile compared to other prevention strategies. Aim: A systematic review was carried out to appraise the frequency of T-zone (eyes, nose, mouth, chin) touching in humans to comprehend the challenge of its restriction, and thus support public health professionals to produce evidence synthesis guidance for public.For this systemic review, data were collected by keyword searching, and several online databases were searched. The PRISMA checklist, PECO protocol and STROBE guideline were followed in this review, and pooled data were analysed in R version 4. Result: Total of 10 single arms observational studies were included. The pooled average (SD) facial self-touch per hour was 50.06 (±47) times, and a specific touch of T-zone was 68.7 (±27). T-zone self-touch within the total facial self-touch was found higher R = 0.680, with 95% CI 0.14, 0.91, P = 0.02 and X Conclusion: The review found that face-touch is a type of consistent regulatory movements. Control of T-zone touch requires extensive behaviour intervention and community awareness.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.