title: Face mask use by patients in primary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Face masks are recommended for patients with respiratory symptoms to reduce influenza transmission. Little knowledge exists regarding actual utilization and acceptance of face masks in primary care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Compare distribution of face masks to clinic and community trends in respiratory infection (RI) and influenza-like illness (ILI); estimate the annual need for face masks in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational study of practice data from a 31-week period starting in October 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Family practice clinic in Madison, Wis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with fever, cough, or other respiratory symptoms as evaluated by reception staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age, sex, and weekly counts of individuals receiving a face mask, as well as counts of RI and ILI patients based on ICD-9 coding from 27 statewide clinics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Face mask counts were 80% of RI counts for the clinic and reflected the demographics of the clinic population. Distribution was correlated to prevalence of RI (R = 0.783, P < 0.001) and ILI (R = 0.632, P < 0.001). Annually, 8% of clinic visits were for RI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high percentage of face mask use among RI patients reflects the feasibility of this intervention to help control influenza transmission in a primary care setting. Using the present data, clinics can estimate the annual need for face masks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1100 Delaplaine Court, Madison, WI 53715, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tischendorf
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Temte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014922:Wisconsin