Abstract
Purpose :
In September 2022, CDC guidelines were updated such that masking is no longer required in healthcare facilities while COVID-19 transmission levels remain low. Despite this recommendation, there is limited literature surrounding patient perspectives of masking in ophthalmology clinics. In this study, we aimed to determine whether patients prefer wearing masks in ophthalmology clinics and if they would feel uncomfortable if their ophthalmologist and/or other patients were not wearing masks.
Methods :
This study included 150 patients who were surveyed between November and December 2022 at an academic, hospital based-ophthalmology practice and a private ophthalmology practice in central Connecticut. The following patient information was collected by the survey in addition to masking preferences: age and sex, COVID-19 vaccination status, history of prior COVID-19 infection, and medical conditions increasing susceptibility to severe COVID-19 infection. We assessed for differences in masking preferences associated with this patient information and compared results between practices.
Results :
The mean age of participants was 63 ± 16 years. The majority of patients supported masking in ophthalmology clinics. 71% of patients preferred wearing masks, 79% of patients preferred their ophthalmologist and staff wearing masks, and 80% of patients preferred other patients wearing masks. If given the option to not wear masks in the office, 70% of patients indicated that they would continue wearing masks. There were statistically significant differences in masking preferences for patients with medical conditions increasing their susceptibility to severe COVID-19 infection, who comprised 22% of respondents overall. 88% of these patients would continue wearing masks if masks were optional (p=0.0112) and 58% of these patients would be uncomfortable at their appointment if their ophthalmologist (p=0.0499) or other patients (p=0.0319) were not wearing masks. Based on age, sex, COVID-19 vaccine status, prior COVID-19 infection, or private versus hospital-based ophthalmology practice, we did not identify statistically significant differences in masking preferences.
Conclusions :
There was a strong preference for wearing masks from patients at both ophthalmology clinics. Practices should consider patient perspectives when developing masking recommendations.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.