Improving Mask Wearing by Group-Home Staff

Abstract

Mask wearing is among the most recommended prevention strategies to slow the spread of SARS-COVID-2 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021j). Mask wearing is especially important in settings where vulnerable populations (e.g., older adults, individuals with certain pre-existing conditions [e.g., type 2 diabetes], people living in congregate settings) live and work. Despite mask wearing being a behavior amenable to change, there are relatively few behavior-analytic studies addressing mask wearing, particularly in the workplace. Thus, the purpose of Study 1 was to collect baseline data on appropriate mask wearing by group-home staff to pilot the measurement system and identify participants for inclusion in Study 2. The purpose of Study 2 was to use the Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services (PDC-HS; Carr et al., 2013) to determine reasons for low mask wearing and implement an indicated intervention to improve mask wearing by group-home staff. The PDC-HS revealed a lack of feedback or programmed consequences for mask-wearing adherence. An intervention involving feedback or feedback plus a monetary incentive effectively increased mask wearing for four participants. Overall, participants found that feedback or feedback plus a monetary incentive were acceptable, appropriate, and reasonable interventions to improve appropriate mask wearing. Results yielded from this study contribute to a sparse, but important, literature base to address health and safety in the workplace as it relates to COVID-19 and recommended practices.