Table 1 Characteristics of study participants
From: Prolonged facemask wearing among hospital workers and dry eye – a mixed-methods study
Full Sample (n = 41) | Participated in qualitative interviews (moderate to severe symptoms; n = 17) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Characteristics | n | % | n | % | |
Job type | |||||
Clinical | 20 | 48.8 | 9 | 52.9 | |
Non-clinical | 21 | 51.2 | 8 | 47.1 | |
Age group | |||||
18–29 | 16 | 39.0 | 7 | 41.2 | |
30–39 | 14 | 34.2 | 4 | 23.5 | |
40–49 | 8 | 19.5 | 5 | 29.4 | |
60–69 | 3 | 7.3 | 1 | 5.9 | |
Sex | |||||
Female | 31 | 75.6 | 15 | 88.2 | |
Male | 10 | 24.4 | 2 | 11.8 | |
Race | |||||
White | 26 | 63.4 | 11 | 64.7 | |
Black or African American | 3 | 7.3 | 1 | 5.9 | |
American Indian or Alaska Native | 2 | 4.9 | 1 | 5.9 | |
Asian or Pacific Islander | 6 | 14.6 | 3 | 17.7 | |
Multi-race | 1 | 2.4 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Refused | 3 | 7.3 | 1 | 5.9 | |
Ethnicity | |||||
Non-Hispanic | 33 | 80.5 | 13 | 76.5 | |
Hispanic | 8 | 19.5 | 4 | 23.5 | |
Household income before tax* | |||||
<$50,000 | 13 | 33.3 | 4 | 25.0 | |
$50,000-$99,999 | 16 | 41.0 | 9 | 56.3 | |
≥$100,000 | 10 | 25.6 | 3 | 18.8 | |
Current smoker | |||||
No | 38 | 92.7 | 16 | 94.1 | |
Yes | 3 | 7.3 | 1 | 5.9 | |
Contact lenses wear at least 4 days/week | |||||
No | 39 | 95.1 | 16 | 94.1 | |
Yes | 2 | 4.9 | 1 | 5.9 | |
Spectacles wear at least 4 days/week | |||||
No | 15 | 36.6 | 7 | 41.2 | |
Yes | 26 | 63.4 | 10 | 58.8 | |
Average screen time | |||||
0–4 h | 8 | 19.5 | 3 | 17.7 | |
5–7 h | 15 | 36.6 | 5 | 29.4 | |
8 + hours | 18 | 43.9 | 9 | 52.9 | |
Screen time most recent shift | |||||
0–4 h | 8 | 19.5 | 3 | 17.7 | |
5–7 h | 18 | 43.9 | 7 | 41.2 | |
8 + hours | 15 | 36.6 | 7 | 41.2 | |
Dry eye diagnosis | |||||
No | 20 | 48.8 | 8 | 47.1 | |
Yes | 17 | 41.5 | 7 | 41.2 | |
Unsure | 4 | 9.8 | 2 | 11.8 | |
Dry eye treatment | |||||
Over the counter (OTC) only | 12 | 29.3 | 3 | 17.7 | |
OTC plus other | 16 | 39.0 | 9 | 52.9 | |
None | 13 | 31.7 | 5 | 29.4 | |
Treatment success | |||||
Successful | 16 | 39.0 | 5 | 29.4 | |
Not successful | 12 | 29.3 | 7 | 41.2 | |
No treatment | 13 | 31.7 | 5 | 29.4 | |
Facemask type | |||||
N95 | 5 | 12.2 | 4 | 23.5 | |
Surgical or cloth | 36 | 87.8 | 13 | 76.5 | |
Facemask worn properly | |||||
No | 7 | 17.1 | 3 | 17.7 | |
Yes | 34 | 82.9 | 14 | 82.4 | |
Mask wearing duration at the most recently concluded shift** | |||||
< 8 h | 16 | 40.0 | 7 | 41.2 | |
8 h | 12 | 30.0 | 5 | 29.4 | |
> 8 h | 12 | 30.0 | 5 | 29.4 | |
Changes during COVID | |||||
Facemask wearing duration | |||||
Decreased | 6 | 14.6 | 2 | 11.8 | |
No change | 17 | 41.5 | 7 | 41.2 | |
Increased | 18 | 43.9 | 8 | 47.1 | |
Airflow blown over eyes | |||||
Decreased | 4 | 9.8 | 1 | 5.9 | |
No change | 7 | 17.1 | 4 | 23.5 | |
Increased | 27 | 65.9 | 12 | 70.6 | |
Not sure | 3 | 7.3 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Perceived change in severity of dry eye at work | |||||
Decreased | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
No change | 4 | 9.8 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Increased | 36 | 87.8 | 17 | 100.0 | |
Not sure | 1 | 2.4 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Perceived change in severity of dry eye NOT at work | |||||
Decreased | 5 | 12.2 | 2 | 11.8 | |
No change | 18 | 43.9 | 6 | 35.3 | |
Increased | 18 | 43.9 | 9 | 52.9 | |