In this episode of the Precision Evidence Podcast, we look at the hot topic of evidence behind the use of face masks as we are in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Does and can evidence-based medicine and clinical relevance play a role here?

What do we know? What do we think we know? And what do we want to know?

Links:

• Duke Study around 14 types of masks https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/36/eabd3083
• RCT in progress: Reduction in COVID-19 Infection Using Surgical Facial Masks Outside the Healthcare System https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/research/coronavirus/publication/32829745
• How to properly put on and take of a face mask  https://uihc.org/health-topics/how-properly-put-and-take-face-mask

• DOTS (Duration-Opportunity-Transmision-Susceptibility) https://www.the-scientist.com/reading-frames/connecting-the-dots-67839

Notes:

• Healthcare was unprepared for the Covod-19 pandemic
• We want to be guided by evidence-based medicine – high-quality research, preferably randomized controlled studies (RCT)
• Researchers collect evidence as the pandemic is running
• Unfortunately, there are many low-quality medial papers published about Covid-19
• Evidence around types of masks like N-95 and surgical masks
• Observational studies can provide information about correlation but not causality
• The challenge of Randomized Controlled Trials with face masks and Covid-19
• Spreading of aerosols and droplets
• Other ways of spreading COVID-19 like how to handle masks
• Duke study around 14 types of masks
• Active randomized controlled studies
• What are we looking for in face maks studies
• Precision Evidence in face mask studies
• Follow-up in upcoming episodes

Contact us at email: [email protected],

Twitter @PrecisionEBM,

website: www.precision-evidence.com

Hosts:

Dr. Kim Kristiansen, M.D: @KKristiansenMD

JG Staal: @HealthyEvidence

Music thanks to mixkit.co