Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2020 August 30

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August 30

use of face masks common cold - Wikipedia citation - scientific studies

the Wikipedia article "the Common Cold" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold states,in the third para, "Some evidence supports the use of face masks.[14]" This is footnoted to a citation "Eccles p. 209". I cannot find any basis for the reference... via Google search... (btw the article is locked from commenting)

I would like to know if this citation is valid and if so to find the published Study.

I would also like to find reliable published pier reviewed experimental scientific studies and their results on the use of face masks to protect against the spread of viral pathogens. (that is to say, not 'opinion-based' references from experts or otherwise).

Could you please help me ?

PW — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.109.122.252 (talk) 11:56, 30 August 2020 (UTC)

The best link is: Common Cold Editors: Eccles, Ronald, Weber, Olaf (Eds.). There are some previews, but sadly not for p. 209. The nice people over at Wikipedia:WikiProject Resource Exchange/Resource Request might be able to help. Alansplodge (talk) 14:38, 30 August 2020 (UTC)

Note that further down in the article, under Common cold#Prevention, it says: "Wearing face masks when around people who are infected may be beneficial; however, there is insufficient evidence for maintaining a greater social distance". This is referenced to Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (Review). Although there's no page number, the index has an entry for "Case-control studies, Outcome 3 Wearing mask" which is on page 129. Happy reading. Alansplodge (talk) 14:44, 30 August 2020 (UTC)

The question on sources for face masks would be better asked at the WP:RDS. But anyway I looked into this briefly in March, and some of the sources I found are mentioned in that thread. Since it's a long reply and you're only interested in the sources I link them here [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Nil Einne (talk) 14:59, 30 August 2020 (UTC)

In the hardcover edition of the book edited by Eccles and Weber, ISBN 978-3-7643-9894-1, page 209 is part of the list of references following the chapter "Transmission of colds". Masks are mentioned, but it seems only as part of a technique of detecting whether aerosolization is taking place. The abstract of the next chapter, "Interventions to prevent transmission of the common cold" by Mieke van Driel and Chris DelMar (pp. 211–220 in the hardcover edition), reads as follows:

Abstract

Theoretically, there are several ways of preventing the common cold: quarantine, immunisation (or vaccination); early treatment of effected individuals; or physical barriers to reduce transmission. All these methods can be dismissed after considering the epidemiology of the common cold, apart from the last. Evidence for effectiveness for physical barriers (which include masks to reduce aerosol transmission; handwashing; and gloves and gowns) come from a variety of empirical studies. The chance of bias for these studies is variable, but we can conclude that all of these barner methods have important potential for preventing transmission of the common cold, although some methods will not be acceptable to the community currently.

A relevant review study: PMC 7322812.  --Lambiam 15:56, 30 August 2020 (UTC)

An alert editor might quote "treatment of effected[sic] individuals" because unfortunate individuals are affected never effected by the common cold. 84.209.119.241 (talk) 17:46, 30 August 2020 (UTC)