ReviewInternational journal of nursing studies advances2021
A rapid review of the use of face mask in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Review in International journal of nursing studies advances, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 57 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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
57 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 188 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effects of Wearing a Mask During Exercise on Physiological and Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2023Pooled it
- Efficacy of personal protective equipment to prevent environmental infection of COVID-19 among healthcare workers: a systematic review.Environmental health and preventive medicine · 2023Pooled it
- Investigating effects of FFP2 wearing during physical activity on gas exchange, metabolism and affective state using a randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2024Trial
- Effects of surgical and cloth facemasks during a submaximal exercise test in healthy adults.Respiratory medicine · 2021Trial
- Demonstration of a Home Laundering Method for Cloth Facepieces to Achieve Hygienic and Sustainable Reuse.New solutions : a journal of environmental and occupational health policy : NS · 2025Article
- Vulnerabilities of people with different types of disabilities in disasters: a rapid evidence review and qualitative research.Disasters · 2025Review
- [Bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) of surgical masks used for eight hours and unused masks with Staphylococcus aureus].Revista espanola de salud publica · 2025Article
- Understanding healthcare workers' experiences of face mask use in healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interview study.Infection prevention in practice · 2025Article
- Potential effects of Whatsapp on maternal health services uptake during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Ghana.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Factors influencing mask-wearing behavior in the context of COVID-19 severity risks in the post-COVID-19 era: a Japanese Nationwide Epidemiological Survey in 2023.Environmental health and preventive medicine · 2025Article
- The mask paradox between perception of discomfort and reality of physiological effects in healthy college students in China: a panel study.BMC public health · 2024Article
- FFP2 induced breathing resistance does not affect metabolism and well-being during brisk walking and stair climbing - a randomized controlled trial.Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England) · 2024Article
- The Moderating Role of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Protective Effects of Health Behaviors among Clients Using Mental Health Services.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Mask-inspired moisture-transmitting and durable thermochromic perovskite smart windows.Nature communications · 2024Article
- Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Evaluated by Antibody Response in a Sample of Workers from the Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy.Antibodies (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Characteristics associated with attitudes and behaviors towards mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Trojan Pandemic Response Initiative.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Balance Ability and Quality of Life in Older Adult with Recovery from Mild COVID-19.Annals of geriatric medicine and research · 2023Article
- Influence of Face Masks on Physiological and Subjective Response during 130 Min of Simulated Light and Medium Physical Manual Work-An Explorative Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Environmental and behavioral factors associated with household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2023Article
- Impacts of public health and social measures on COVID-19 in Europe: a review and modified Delphi technique.Frontiers in public health · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
6 authors at 6 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe original use of face masks was to help protect surgical wounds from staff-generated nasal and oral bacteria. Currently governments across the world have instituted the mandatory use of masks and other face coverings so that face masks now find much broader usage in situations where close contact of people is frequent and inevitable, particularly inside public transport facilities, shopping malls and workplaces in response to the COVID-19.
objectiveWe conducted a rapid review to investigate the impact face mask use has had in controlling transmission of respiratory viral infections.
methodA rapid review was conducted in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance. Five electronic databases (CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO and Global Health) were searched from database inception to date, using pre-defined search terms. We included all studies of any design and used descriptive analysis to report summary statistics of search results. Data were extracted including sample characteristics, study design, respiratory virus being controlled, type of face masks used and their effectiveness.
results58 out of 84 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 13 were classified as systematic reviews and 45 were quantitative studies (comprising randomised controlled trials, retrospective cohort studies, case control, cross-sectional, surveys, observational and descriptive studies).
conclusionRegardless of the type, setting, or who wears the face mask, it serves primarily a dual preventive purpose; protecting oneself from getting viral infection and protecting others. Therefore, if everyone wears a face mask in public, it offers a double barrier against COVID-19 transmission.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.