Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Proper Face Mask Utilization Among Clinic Attendees for COVID-19 Prevention

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of facemasks in mitigating viral transmission, yet gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding their proper use persist, particularly in community healthcare settings. This Applied Practice Experience (APE) project, conducted at SOS Medical Center in North Plainfield, New Jersey, from February to June 2022, aimed to assess and enhance facemask utilization among clinic attendees through targeted education. A quasi-experimental design was employed, to identify best practices, development of a 19-item KAP questionnaire and teaching aid, and pre- and post-intervention surveys with 32 participants (65.6% female; mean age 35.8 years; 69% with bachelor’s degree or higher). Participants received individualized education on facemask use, with follow-up assessments after two weeks. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare paired pre- and post-scores. Results showed statistically significant improvements: knowledge scores increased from 6.5 to 7.5 (p<0.0001), attitude from 3.4 to 4.1 (p=0.0011), practice from 3.1 to 4.9 (p<0.0001), and overall from 13.0 to 16.5 (p<0.0001). Notable gains included 41% increases in correct handling and storage practices. The intervention effectively bridged KAP gaps, supporting recommendations for integrating mask education into clinical consultations, public health campaigns, and policy frameworks to promote widespread adoption. This study highlights the value of simple, scalable education in enhancing respiratory infection control, with implications for future pandemics and occupational health standards.