@article{article_1469422, title={Individuals’ Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors Regarding the Use of Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Study}, journal={Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi}, volume={34}, pages={126–139}, year={2025}, DOI={10.17942/sted.1469422}, author={Meriç, Saadet and Ulupınar, Sevim}, keywords={maske kullanımı, pandemi, duygu, düşünce, davranış, COVID-19}, abstract={Aim: The study aimed to find out individuals’ mask-wearing-related emotions, thoughts, behaviors, problems, and recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted in June- October 2022 with 399 individuals selected with the snowball sampling method. The research data were collected with a Google form. Findings: Of all participants, 65.9% were female, 70.1% were undergraduate program graduates, 77.2% were actively working, 76.2% had no chronic disease, and 48.9% previously had a COVID-19 infection. The analysis of individuals’ mask-wearing-related emotions demonstrated that 77.1% of the participants believed that the mask would protect them against COVID-19 infection and 62.9% of them got angry with those not wearing masks. The examination of individuals’ mask-wearing-related thoughts indicated that 78.1% of the participants thought that masks were effective in preventing COVID-19 infection and 68.9% of them thought that all human beings should wear masks for protection against COVID-19 disease. As per the review of individuals’ mask-wearing-related behaviors, 60.7% of the participants voluntarily wore masks and 53.4% of them wore a mask soon after leaving home and did not wear off it until returning home. The analysis of individuals’ mask-wearing-related problems showed that 75.9% of the participants thought that throwing used masks into nature caused environmental pollution, 68.9% of them had difficulty working with a mask on throughout the day, and 60.7% thought that the supervision over the quality and effectiveness of masks was inadequate. According to the examination of individuals’ mask-wearing-related recommendations, 73.6% of the participants recommended that masks allowing the skin to breathe be produced and 68.9% of them recommended that masks be distributed to people free of charge. As per gender, education level, employment status, place of residence, the status of having a chronic disease, and the status of previously having a COVID-19 infection, statistically significant differences were identified in participants’ mask-wearing-related emotions, thoughts, behaviors, problems, and recommendations (p <0.05). Conclusion: Finding out about individuals’ mask-wearing-related behaviors and problems and making plans based on these findings are important in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Such sort of pandemics threatening public health are likely in the future. Therefore, it is important to design training programs and arrangements enhancing societal sensitivity to mask-wearing.}, number={2}, publisher={Türkiye Tabipleri Birliği}, organization={Bu çalışma herhangi bir kurum/kuruluştan destek almamıştır}