Use of Adhesive Tape to Facilitate Optimal Mask Positioning and Use in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pettit, N.; Doehring, M.; O'Neill, B.; Zaidi, A.

Study Objective: We hypothesize that placing a piece of surgical tape at the bridge of the nose over the mask, creating a physical deterrent to mask removal, will improve proper mask use among emergency department (ED) patients. Methods: 123 patients were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial at Eskenazi Hospital from April 2020 until October 2020. We permitted participants to either use their own mask (due to low resources institutionally) or we provided a surgical/cloth mask (early on relied on donated cloth masks for patients). Participants were randomized to a control (no tape over the mask/nose) or to the intervention (placing tape over the bridge of the nose of the face mask). The primary outcome of this study is the frequency at which participants correctly wear their masks in the intervention and control groups at 60 minutes into their ED visit. Results: At 60- minutes in the no-tape control group, 31.1% participants were incorrectly wearing the masks, compared to 100% of the intervention group correctly wearing their masks. Subjects who were observed wearing their masks incorrectly (91.1%) exhibited some combination of either their mask removed or their nose and/or mouth exposed. Conclusions: Applying a piece of tape to the bridge of the nose affords a simple, low-cost, low-risk solution that improved the rate of proper mask usage to 100%.