Evaluation of the Hand-To-Face Contact Behaviors of Healthcare Workers and Medical Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 spread via different transmission routes. While the droplet path plays the most important role in transmisson, contamination of the mucous membranes with contaminated hands also plays an important role in the spread. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the face-touching behaviors of HCWs and intern doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was conducted in July 2020 and in the Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine in Konya, Turkey. While 1-hour COVID-19 training was given to healthcare personnel and interns, participants face-touching behavior was monitored through video recording and was tallied with a scoring sheet. Results: A total of 141 intern doctors, 46 assistant doctors, 14 nurses, 10 associate doctors, and eight staff members participated in the study. On average, each of the participants touched their face a mean of 17.2 times (median: 16; range: 0–45) per hour. Of all the face touches, 85.2% (3,228/3,787) involved contact with a face mask, whereas 14.7 % (559/3787) involved contact with the eye mucosa. Intern doctors touched their faces significantly less often with a mean of 13.7 times per hour (P < 0.001), while nurses touched their faces more often with a mean of 28 times per hour (P < 0.001). Although nurses touched their eye mucosa more often than interns and assistant doctors (P < 0,001), their contact with the face mask was significantly less frequent than that of the other participants (P < 0.001). Conclusions: To date, there are no effective vaccines or antiviral drugs for SARS-CoV-2. For the time being, isolation, social distancing measures, and individuals’ protective behaviors are essential for preventing infection. HCWs, medical students, and the broader community should be informed about self-inoculation, which can result from touching one’s mucosa or mask with contaminated hands.