Acceptability of hygiene, face covering and social distancing interventions to prevent exacerbations in people living with airways diseases

Abstract

Interventions to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have been associated with substantial reductions in exacerbations of airways diseases, likely through reduced transmission of other respiratory viruses. We surveyed 4442 people with airways disease (asthma=3627, bronchiectasis=258, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease=557) to gauge attitudes and intentions towards continuing such measures after the COVID-19 pandemic. 47% intended to continue wearing a face mask in indoor public spaces, and 61% thought everyone should be required to do so during the ‘influenza season. Women, those with bronchiectasis, and older people were generally more cautious. Respiratory virus infection control measures should be considered in clinical guidelines and public health recommendations.

Future Acceptability of Respiratory Virus Infection Control Interventions in General Population to Prevent Respiratory Infections

“…Their support for future policy initiatives was also strong, as shown by their support for 77% of the proposed measures. This supports an earlier study by Hurst et al (2021), which showed that a significant number of people living with chronic lung disease believed that anti-infection measures should be applied to the wider community as well as to themselves beyond the COIVD-19 pandemic, particularly during the flu season [18]. For the future implementation of such measures among smokers and people living with chronic lung disease, special consideration should be paid to the benefits and potential harms of these measures, including cost and psychological harm [18,30].…”

“…This research used a modified version of a previously validated assessment survey [ 18 ]. The survey is adaptive and consists of three sections.…”

“…Although there is growing evidence supporting public knowledge and compliance with NPIs during the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and previous viral epidemics, studies exploring the acceptability rate for the future use of NPIs by the general population are still lacking [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Only one study has assessed the long-term acceptability of NPIs to prevent future exacerbations in people living with chronic airway diseases [ 18 ]. This online large-scale cross-sectional survey found that 79.5% of the respondents would continue washing their hands, and 68.6% would keep social distancing indoors [ 18 ].…”

“…Only one study has assessed the long-term acceptability of NPIs to prevent future exacerbations in people living with chronic airway diseases [ 18 ]. This online large-scale cross-sectional survey found that 79.5% of the respondents would continue washing their hands, and 68.6% would keep social distancing indoors [ 18 ]. These findings recommend measuring the acceptance and adoption levels of NPIs by the general population in the future, particularly once the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has subsided.…”

Remote Monitoring for Prediction and Management of Acute Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD)

“…Such relevant information can be shared through apps with COPD patients engaged in their own self-management owing to frequent exacerbations of their disease [16]. A patient's knowledge of at-risk environmental situations will enable them to make informed choices and modify their own risk of exacerbation by limiting social interactions, avoiding polluted areas, and asking family members to prudently wear masks in case of infection symptoms [17]. There are many smartphone applications now providing information regarding actual indices of air quality with appropriate spatial and temporal granularities.…”