One in four not covering coughs, sneezes

"We were surprised to find that this was the first study of directly observed respiratory hygiene behaviour that we could identify," says Nick Wilson of Otago University Wellington in New Zealand, an author on the study.

In the midst of the H1N1 influenza pandemic that started in 2009, public health officials around the world were urging individuals to take action to avoid spreading the infection. One of the simplest actions recommended was that individuals cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze, preferrably with a tissue or into their elbow, to avoid getting the virus on their hands and spreading it to nearby surfaces.

To determine if people were heeding the advice of public health agencies, Wilson and his colleagues conducted an observational survey in 3 public areas in New Zealand's capital city of Wellington: A train station, a hospital and a shopping mall. Local public health authorities had already been conducting an educational campaign with posters and radio and newspaper advertisements recommending people cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze, using a tissue or their elbow.

Using medical students as observers they recorded the incidence of coughs and sneezes and the individual response to the respiratory event.

Wilson and his colleagues observered 5.5 coughs and sneezes per observed-person-hour of which 26.7% went uncovered and only 4.7% were covered by a tissue, handkerchief or elbow (the method recommended by public health officials). The most common behavior, observed in 64.4% of cases, was to cover the mouth with the hands. Use of a handkerchief or covering the mouth with the elbow were the least common behaviors.

"This study showed a low prevalence of recommended respiratory hygiene behaviors suggesting that hygiene messages promoted in mass media campaigns have not been seen and/or have not been readily adopted by the public in this city," says Wilson.

Subsequent work they have done indicates that there has actually been a drop off in some hygiene behaviours since the pandemic in the New Zealand winter of 2009. This is based on regular monitoring of public use of a hand sanitiser station at the entrance to the hospital near where they work.