The evidence for masks is inconclusive; hand hygiene stronger | Hacker News Reader

The evidence for masks is inconclusive; hand hygiene stronger

cochrane.org

12 pointsfwungy6 comments

This article talks about the study and how the results should be taken with a grain of salt

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-02-masks-covid-dont.html

Hmm, let's check the disclosure statement on this one:

Disclosure statement _C Raina MacIntyre receives funding from mask manufacturer Detmold for testing of their masks and is on an advisory board for mask manufacturer Ascend._ She receives funding from Sanofi for investigator-driven influenza research, and from NHMRC and MRFF. She has been an expert advisor for Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) In the matter of a proceeding under the Labour Relations Act, 1995 between ONA and Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation.

Abrar Ahmad Chughtai had testing of filtration of masks by 3M for his PhD. 3M products were not used in his research. He also has worked with Paftec on research in respirators (no funding was involved).

_Dr Fisman has served as an expert witness for the Ontario Nurses Association and the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario in legal challenges related to safer working conditions in healthcare and schools. Dr. Fisman has served on advisory boards for Pfizer, Astrazeneca, Merck, Seqirus and Sanofi vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and S. pneumoniae. He holds current funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and Health Canada._

_Trish Greenhalgh receives funding from UK National Institute for Health and Care Research and the NIHR School for Primary Care Research._ She is affiliated with University of Oxford and University of Oslo. She has served as an unpaid adviser tot he philanthropic fund BALVI and is a member of Independent SAGE

Thanks! I wish there was a browser plugin that can do a conflict of interest analysis in real-time.

Cochrane metastudies are considered highly reputable. All they do is assemble and analyze the collective research on a topic.

Totally, I'm sure the thing I posted could be wrong, I honestly don't know. But we should be talking about their claims and refute them, not just appealing to Cochrane's authority.

Do physical measures such as hand-washing or wearing masks stop or slow down the spread of respiratory viruses?

slow down the spread of respiratory viruses? Key messages We are uncertain whether wearing masks or N95/P2 respirators helps to slow the spread of respiratory viruses based on the studies we assessed.

Hand hygiene programmes may help to slow the spread of respiratory viruses.

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